DONNA GAIL (POTTER) HUSKA

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DONNA GAIL (POTTER) HUSKA

Donna passed away peacefully at home with family by her side on Monday, December 7, 2020, at the age of 78 years, in Sarnia, Ontario, after a recent diagnosis of colon cancer.
Donna was predeceased by her sisters, Beverly (Garey) McMurchie and Verna (Matt) Didychuk, and by her parents, Donald and Louise Potter. She is survived by her children, Dawn (Ryan) Mawer and cherished grandson, Jack Mawer of Sarnia, ON; Robert "Bob" Huska of The Pas, MB; and Karen Huska of Winnipeg, MB; as well as nieces and nephews, Sjaane McMurchie, Ward McMurchie, and Don Didychuk and wife Stefanie, who were very close to her and whose children, Allison, Sarah and Evan were like grandchildren to her.
Donna was born and raised in Flin Flon, MB. She followed her sister Beverly's footsteps and graduated from Brandon School of Nursing in 1963. She began her career in Dauphin, MB where she married Bill Huska in 1967. In 1969, they moved to The Pas, MB with baby Dawn, followed by the births of Bob and Karen. After taking a few years off to raise her children, she completed a refresher course and resumed her nursing career at St. Anthony's General Hospital, where she enjoyed working on various wards, the operating room, and the emergency room until her retirement in 2006. She was an excellent nurse and loved her profession.
Mom was a loving, positive, giving, and genuine woman. She was an exceptional mother and grandmother who cherished her visits with grandson Jack. She made friends easily and was loved by many from nursing school, her nursing career, neighbours, and socially. She loved summertime vacations at Clearwater Lake and enjoying a beer outside on a sunny day with friends. She was a talented knitter, taught by her very crafty mother, and many friends received handknit mittens or special gifts of sweaters or afghans over the years. She was still knitting just a few months before her illness. She was tough and resilient, survived breast cancer and two hip replacements, and was never one to complain.
The family is grateful for the exceptional care from Dr. Evan Lilly and staff at the St. Joseph's Hospice Palliative Care Clinic; the palliative care nursing team from VON, especially Brittany who made special arrangements to personally tend to Mom at home when she passed; the personal support workers from Bayshore Home Care Solutions, who provided personal care at home to Mom during her final weeks; and the care coordinators at Erie St. Clair LHIN who made sure we had all the equipment and services we needed. All these remarkable people made it possible for us to keep Mom safe and comfortable at home and cared for her every need with dignity and compassion.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Donna's memory may be made to St. Joseph's Hospice Sarnia Lambton, 475 Christina Street North, Sarnia, ON, N7T 5W3 or online at www.stjosephshospice.ca.
Messages of condolence may be left online at smithfuneralhome.ca.
Final care and cremation will take place in Sarnia, ON by Smith Funeral Home. Due to COVID-related travel and gathering restrictions, the family hopes to plan a memorial gathering in the future.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 12, 2020