Eva Burnett (Kusturok)
nee Baxter
Eva Burnett, beloved wife, sister, mother, mother-in-law, and grandma, passed away in her sleep suddenly and without prior warning at her home in Miami, MB on Sunday, December 09, 2007.
Eva was predeceased by her parents, George in 1981 and Ada in 1998. She will be deeply missed by her loving husband Gordon (Fish), her daughter Patti, son-in-law Joel Lamoureux, grandson Alex, stepchildren Darlene (Glen), Doug (Marian), Bev (Blair), Joanne (John), Linda (Gilbert), Lori (Gerald), and Maury (CC), her first husband John Kusturok, brother Jim (Lynne) Baxter, sister Elinor (Cliff) Shaw, and numerous nieces, nephews, and step grandchildren.
Mom’s pride and joy was her family. When she married Fish, she was thrilled to have all of these extra kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Eva was always so supportive of Patti with her fiddling, and later on with the apple of her eye, her grandson Alex. Many miles were put on the car, and many laughs were had on the trips fiddling across Canada. My earliest memory of Mom is of her dancing around the kitchen with me every single Saturday night while listening to the Polka Party. For 3 hours straight my head would be on her shoulder and we’d waltz, polka, foxtrot and two-step a lot of miles on that kitchen floor.
When Alex came along 16 years ago, Grandma was a role that Eva was born to play. She now had a new dance partner on Saturday nights and when he took up the fiddle, Grandma was thrilled beyond belief. Very rarely did a day go by when Alex and Grandma didn’t have at least one chat on the phone.
Eva loved her life in Miami, going to bingo, playing the accordion on music night at the Friendship Centre, playing shuffleboard and pool, and spending her days with Fish. They had a wonderful life together in their cozy home in Miami, and when I talked to Mom the last time, she was so thrilled with the new carpets and flooring, and couldn’t wait to show off the house’s new look to us when we came out at Christmastime. Mom had a heart of gold, and always wore it on her sleeve. She loved to laugh, and believe it or not, she loved to cry. She loved music, and loved being with her friends and family. She was a strong woman but was also a real softie. We already miss her so much.
Here are few words from her Grandson Alex: “Grandma was a very special lady. She would always love the sound of the fiddle. She would dedicate her life to my mom and myself, the only two kids she had. If it was bringing my mom or me to a fiddle contest, she would drop everything else that was going on. She would not miss an event that one of us were playing at. She made sure before I could walk that I would know how to dance. She was my best friend from when I was a baby until now. She will always by my best friend. I love you grandma… Love your little manakin. Alex”
Funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the Miami Community Hall in Miami, MB with Rev. Allison Halstead officiating. Interment will take place at a later date in the Hamiota Cemetery, Hamiota, MB. Memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 6 Donald St. Suite 200, Winnipeg, MB, R3L 0K6.
Given Eva’s love of music, the family wishes to invite those attending the service to bring their instruments and join in a time of music following the service.
