It is with great sadness that the Gusikoski family announces the peaceful passing of their dear mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Mary Louise Gusikoski, 87 years, of Saskatoon and formerly of Viscount, on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at St. Paul’s Hospital. During her last four days her children were able to see her and there was never a time when one or two of her children were not by her side throughout the day or night. Mom fought hard for this time to be with all her children and we her children will always treasure this time we got with our mother. Mom passed away peacefully with her two daughters by her side holding her hands. Mary was born on April 25, 1933 in Regina Sk. She became the chosen child to August and Concordia (nee Richels) Thiemann. Mary obtained her education in St. Gregor, she later moved to Humboldt for employment. She worked at Daniel’s Dry Cleaners and did domestic duties for various families as many young women of that era did. One family that became very special to her was the Batten family, Mary and Charles Batten always made her feel like family. She enjoyed many shopping excursions with Mary Batten especially before Christmas. It was at this time that she met her future husband Anton (Tony) Gusikoski. On Nov. 8, 1955 Mary and Tony were wed at St. Gregory R.C. church in St Gregor. In 1957 they moved to the Viscount area and ran a mixed farm. Mary and Tony were blessed with ten children. From an early age Mary’s mother had instilled the importance of looking after others; be it her nieces and nephews, the children in her care or in the raising of her own children. Mary thoroughly enjoyed being a mother, and always put her children’s needs first. She taught them many life lessons which included to smile, be kind and help others. Raising a large family brought mom many sleepless nights, she was most content when she knew everyone was safe at home. Mary was her children’s biggest cheerleader. For her the best part of watching her boys play hockey (eyes closed, head in hand), was when the game was over and no one had been hurt. And oh, those motorcycles how mom hated those, “damn things”, but she could appreciate and respect her children’s choices.
Mom was a fabulous cook and prepared many delicious dishes such as bread, cinnamon buns and cabbage rolls to name a few, but the all-time favorite was her fried chicken which each of her children agreed that was the best! Mary worked closely with Tony on the farm in all aspects especially when the children were little.
Farm life for mom meant growing a large garden, canning fruits and vegetables, raising chickens and turkeys, patching endless pairs of jeans, washing load after load of clothes with a wringer washing machine and selling eggs and cream to supplement the farm income.
When the children were old enough to help out on the farm, Mary stepped back and let the children work with Tony. Mary and Tony retired to Viscount in 1998. Mom thoroughly enjoyed this stage of her life. She joined the senior’s center, the sewing club, bowled, played bingo, and made many new friends. But what mom enjoyed most about living in town was having her grandchildren stop in for an ice cream and to play a game of cards. Mom loved playing cards and taught every grandchild how to play many different card games. Mary’s caring, gentle and giving nature of putting everyone else first will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her nine children, 16 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren:
CURTIS Gusikoski (Kelly) of Strathroy, ON and family Taylor Gibbs and son Jackson;
GLENN Gusikoski of Saskatoon;
LES (Sandy) Gusikoski of Viscount and family Lee (Jerri) Gusikoski and children Gracyn, Lane, Rhett, and Hayes, Jeff’s children Aurora and Christopher, Mitch (Chandra) Gusikoski , Vincent Gusikoski and Lacey Gusikoski;
DAVID Gusikoski of Viscount;
LAWRIE (Alana) Gusikoski of Viscount and family Catlin (Dawn) Gusikoski and children Jyllisa and Bauer, Maverick (Sienna) Gusikoski and Dexter Gusikoski;
RON Gusikoski (Diane Dieno) of Viscount and family Cole (Meli) Bradford and daughter Josie, Logan Gusikoski and Dawson Gusikoski;
MICHELLE (Garry) Volk of Viscount and family Matthew (Melissa) Volk and daughter Emery, Josh Volk and Landon Volk;
TONY (Megan) Gusikoski of Calgary and family Nolan Gusikoski and Zachary Gusikoski;
DIANA (Trevor) Hale of Saskatoon;
Biological sister Helen Foley of Coronach; sisters and brothers - in- law: Iona Stites, Leonard (Joyce) Gusikoski, Cecilia Gibson, Gloria Gusikoski, Dorothy (Ray) Hagel, Eileen Leffler and Gordon (Brenda) Gusikoski ; and by numerous nieces and nephews from the Thiemann, Foley and Gusikoski families and by her best friend of 50 plus years, Betty Wagner.
Mary was predeceased by her husband Tony; son Michael; grandson Jeffery Gusikoski; and by her parents; 1 sister: Rosie (Joe) Schmidt; 7 brothers: Clem (Frances), August (Gertrude), Arnold (Antonia), Alois (Marion), Edmund (Gertrude), Raymond (Katie) and Leo (Helen); brother-in-law Elmer Foley and by members of the Gusikoski family.
A Funeral Mass was held on Monday, February 1, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. from St. Alphonse R.C. Church, Viscount, SK. Celebrated by Fr. Emmanual Olusola. Interment followed at St. Alphonse R.C. Cemetery. Memorial donations in Mary’s memory may be directed to Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan.