GAYE LYNNE USUNIER

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GAYE LYNNE USUNIER May 23, 1954 Victoria Day - May 19, 2003 Victoria Day It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of our beloved wife, mother, sister and daughter on May 19, 2003 after a long courageous battle with cancer, the angles came to take Gaye home. Gaye passed away with her husband Francis and sons, Michael, Matthew and Mark; sister Patricia; mother Catherine; brother-in-law Raymond and his wife Pat; nieces, Marcia and Rayna at her bedside. Gaye will be loving missed by her husband Francis of 21 years; loving sons, Michael, Matthew and Mark; parents Nicholas and Catherine Burak; sister Patricia; father-in-law Andre Usunier and mother-in-law Cecile Usunier; brothers-in-law, Raymond (Patricia) Usunier, nieces, Marcia and Rayna; Paul (Elaine) Usunier, niece Allison and nephew Marc; sisters-in-law, Judy and (Tim) Quadrelli and niece Nicolette, and Elaine (Danny) Gavigan, nephew Tyler and niece Meghan, and numerous relatives and friends. Gaye was predeceased by her son Christopher; her brother Barry; grandparents Michael and Julia Burak and Jacob and Mary Schaff. A special thanks to our friends who aided in taking Gaye to her numerous medical appointments, lunches, transporting our son Mark to school and Thursdays craft nights. A sincere heartfelt thanks to Gayes sister Patricia and brother-in-law Raymond who demonstrated tremendous love and support through this very difficult battle with Gayes illness. The family would like to acknowledge the support and love that parents Cathy and Nick Burak and Cecile and Andre Usunier have given to Gaye, Francis and our sons, Michael, Matthew and Mark throughout the years. Francis acknowledges the tremendous support by Gayes fellow staff members at Health Sciences Centre and his friends and teaching staff, especially the "Doc" and Kim B. and administration at Marymound School. Gaye was born in Winnipeg on May 23, 1954, Victoria Day. She graduated from Grant Park High School and attended the University of Manitoba attaining a Degree in Family Studies. She worked in the juvenile corrections and child welfare system for a time period and then changed careers and entered nursing. Gaye graduated from St. Boniface Nursing School in 1982 and was employed at Health Sciences in the area of orthopaedics where she remained until her illness forced her to retire. Gaye was blessed with many friends. She had an innate ability to make people feel welcome and loved. She enjoyed watching her three boys participating in sports and would volunteer on numerous school committees. Gaye taught her boys how to live life to the fullest and always try your best whether in school, sports or chores around the house. She valued honesty and respect in dealing with others and these values she imparted to her children. Gayes special time was Christmas and she enjoyed decorating her home and entertaining guests. Christmas time was also a time that Gaye wanted to give back to those who were less fortunate than herself. She found great satisfaction in organizing Christmas hampers on A5 at Health Sciences Centre. Gaye had a strong appreciation for nature and enjoyed cottage life at Lake of the Woods. The cottage offered her a sanctuary and place to truly relax, she will dearly miss her cottage neighbours who again were very supportive to her family during her illness. A special thanks to the CancerCare and Palliative Care nurses and physicians at St. Boniface Hospital who have taken care of Gaye during her illness. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, May 23 at 1:30 p.m. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 4588 Roblin Blvd. (enter parking lot off of Grant Avenue) with Msgr. Stan Jaworski presiding. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gayes memory may be made to CancerCare Manitoba, 675 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9. "You can shed tears that she was gone or you can smile because she had lived. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back, Or you can do what shed want. Smile, open yours eyes, love and go on." LEATHERDALE GARDINER Funeral Chapel-St. James-949-4872

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 21, 2003