Mary Usick

Mary Usick entered into eternal rest with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at her residence in Minnedosa at the age of 86 years. She was born on June 20, 1936 in RM of Harrison.

Mom was predeceased by her husband, Cliff Usick on January 8, 2003, the same year her mom died, Anne Harasymchuk on September 13, 2003.  She was predeceased by her dad Bill Harasymchuk on January 17, 1975, brother Steve Harasymchuk in 1982, sister Olga Haraysmchuk in 1939, and brother Metro Harasymchuk 2017. She was also predeceased by her great-grandson Ole Heie of Kingman Alberta who passed away on July 10, 2021.  

Left to cherish her memory are her children:

Randy & Gwen Usick of Minnedosa,  

Grandchildren Leigh and Rob Heie of Kingman Alberta, and great-grandchild Ava;

Kim and Mike Speiss of Neepawa and great-grandchildren: Wiley of Thompson Manitoba and Bodhi of Neepawa.  

Lyle & Donna Usick of Minnedosa, granddaughter Rachael Usick of Minnedosa;

Mark & Susan Usick of Minnedosa, grandchildren  Amy & Colin Lawson of Basswood with great-grand children Isla and Rowan, Ashley and Kevin Falk of Oak Bluff, and great-grandchildren Margaret and Franklin and granddaughter Andrea Usick of Brandon.

Rev. Orland & Sheri Usick of Oak River; Sean Usick of Hamiota; Sarah Usick and Assaf Bar-Natan of Boston Massachusetts; Chris & Kimberlee Usick of Winnipeg, great-grandchildren, Liam, Leila and Lennon; Pastor Joel and Heidi Usick and great-grandson Noah of Shoal Lake; granddaughter Emily Usick of Toronto Ontario.

Mary also is survived by her sister- Barbara Osadec of Sandy Lake.

Mary married Cliff Usick October 8, 1955 and together farmed north of Newdale for many years until they retired and moved to Minnedosa.  Raising four boys with her husband Cliff on a mixed farming operation was no easy task.   Always a huge garden, cows, chickens, pigs and you name it there was always plenty to do and all kinds of trouble for the boys to get into.   It was a fun place to grow up with lots of never-ending work and with many trials and struggles.

Mom went to school in Sandy Lake.  She worked mostly on the farm, but later on when the kids were older, worked in housekeeping at Elkhorn Resort. Cliff invented a combine attachment called the Winno-bar and later traveled together all over Canada and the U.S marketing and doing installations.   When they retired to Minnedosa, Mary got a job in Neepawa with Immigrant and Settlement Services in the childminding program.  She cared for children from 6 months to 12 years old while the parents attended English classes.  The kids loved her and it wasn’t long before all the kids and parents knew her as ‘Baba’. She never let language be a barrier because genuine love and caring, is a universal language.   Many times she would be stopped at a restaurant or grocery store where some child would run up to her and give her a big hug and say ‘baba!’

Baba- that was her greatest accomplishment, and she wouldn’t want it any other way.   She became baba to everyone whether family or not. 

She had a way of selflessly loving everyone and making them feel that they were her favorite son or daughter-in-law or grandchild.  She remembered everyone’s birthday and anniversary and would hand out cards with a little cash in every envelope and always signed, with her signature ‘have a nice day!’   

She could put a meal on in minutes always asking people to eat. She always had a story to tell and the children would be fascinated for hours by the stories of growing up on the farm. 

Baba is known worldwide for her perogies.  There is no one who could make perogies, better or faster than baba.  Whether it was for a wedding or some other event… 10 or 20 dozen perogies would be whipped up in no time.  It was later discovered that in order to get her perogy recipe you had to book a time with her to make perogies and then she would share the recipe. 

Mary lived by the rule that ‘food always tastes better when you have someone to share it with” and her gift of hospitality blessed countless people.

Funeral service was held November 21, 2022 in Minnedosa, MB with Pastors Orland & Joel Usick officiating. Urn Bearers were Rachel & Andrea Usick with interment in Minnedosa Cemetery.  Whites Funeral Home was in care of arrangements.

Memorial donations in Mary’s name may be made to: Ole Heie & Family Legacy Fund C/O Battle River Community Foundation PO Box 1122 Camrose, AB T4V 4E7

She will be missed.