Obituary for Ella Augusta Bernie (Kaliska)
Ella Augusta Bernie (Kaliska) passed peacefully from this world and into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Monday, February 28th, 2022. Her son Robert was at her side holding her hand. Ella was 88 years old.
Ella leaves to mourn, her three children Robert (Tracey) Bernie, Debby (Rick Kawulia) Bernie and, Cyndi (Serge) Cossais, as well as her grandchildren Jonathon and Jacob Berrey, Emily and Jack Bernie, and Bodhi Kawulia. She also leaves to mourn numerous extended family members throughout Canada and the United States.
Ella was predeceased by her mother and father (John and Susan), her husband Gerald, and her eight siblings (Mary, Grace, Margaret, Jaye, Andrew, Lad, Joe and Irene).
Ella was born on August 6th, 1933 in Bienfait, Saskatchewan. Her parents emigrated from Czechoslovakia to Canada. The Kaliska family moved by rail to homestead north of Pinewood when Ella was still a baby. The Kaliska homestead was built on land cleared by hand in Sutherland Township. Ella, her brother Joe and sister Irene attended a one room school several miles from her home. She loved growing up on the farm and would tell stories to her children and grandchildren about her frontier life, and the toils and joys of farm life.
Ella was a true cowgirl and loved her horses. She rode her horse “Judy” and bronco “Billy” on the farm and worked hard to run the farm with her family. She put up hay, worked the crops, took care of the cattle, and cut wood on the farm. As a teenager she cut a load of spruce wood by hand with a “Swede saw” and hauled it to the road by horse all on her own. She sold the wood to buy a new radio battery, so her mother and father could listen to the radio at night after their work was done. She was an avid hunter and crack shot who loved partridge and deer season. She enjoyed taking part when her brothers Lad and Joe and their friends would come to the farm for the fall deer hunt. Ella would field dress, skin, and butcher her own deer without blinking an eye!
As a young girl, Ella loved to sing and play her Gibson guitar. She would tell stories of how, after the day’s work was done, the family would gather around the radio at night and listen to “The Grand Ole Opry.” Ella played and sang under the name “Black Rider” on CFOB radio in Fort Frances. She was a big hit! She had gotten a ride to Fort Frances in a pulp truck in true farm girl fashion! Her love for music continued and she would often entertain her grandchildren with her songs and music.
Ella was a creative soul and loved to draw and paint as a girl. She sketched many pictures of landscapes and nature and painted scenes with her beloved horses as a central theme.
Ella left the farm and worked at Hagen’s Resort in Nestor Falls where she met many people who would become lifelong friends. Following several seasons at Hagen’s, Ella worked as a Nurse’s Aide at La Verendrye Hospital. She loved helping people and had natural empathy and connection with patients. She left the hospital to help family on the farm, demonstrating her lifelong caring, love, and duty to her family.
Ella left the farm once more to work at the White Dog Falls hydro project. It was in White Dog Falls where she met her husband Gerry who had come to work there from Allumette Island on the Ottawa River. Ella and Gerry were married in 1959 in Keewatin. Shortly after, children Robert and Deborah were born in Fort Frances. The family lived briefly in Otter Rapids and Kapuskasing, Ontario where Gerry worked for Ontario Hydro. Upon returning to Fort Frances, Cyndi was born. Ella returned to the Rainy River area when the family moved back to Sutherland Township for two years and eventually to Rainy River where she lived until her passing.
While living in Rainy River, Ella worked for many years at Buena Vista Lodge in Morson, Ontario. Lodge owners Chuck and Dorothy Gate were her old friends from her days in Nestor Falls. She loved working at the lodge store, meeting new people, and making everyone feel special. She met her special friend Diane Anderson (Bonhomme) while working at Buena Vista, and the two shared many laughs and stories together.
Following her tenure at Buena Vista, Ella worked at the Rainy River Duty Free Shop for several years. She cared deeply for the owners, Glenn and Lisa Armstrong, and enjoyed her time with them working at the shop.
Although Ella chose to remain in Rainy River, she traveled regularly to be with her family and often visited Bob and Cyndi in Kenora and Dryden. She traveled to Australia three times to visit her daughter Debby and family as well. Ella's house was always the centre of family get togethers over the years. She loved her family more than anything and always welcomed company and made room no matter what. She always put her family first, and they were the great joy of her life. Her grandchildren were of special significance to her, and she doted on each and every one of them. The love, happiness, and joy of those days will never be forgotten by her family, children, grandchildren and friends.
Ella got a special birthday gift from her family in the form of a young colt named “Magnar’s Flaming Ace” that she loved to ride, spend time with, and take care of. Through her love of horses and the equine community she made many special friends including the Block family from Baudette, MN whom she loved dearly.
Ella met her special friend Wes Hasbargen from Baudette, MN in 1997, and a special chapter of her life began. Ella and Wes shared a love of God, of the farm and the country, and had many adventures together. Wes, always the traveller, introduced Ella to many people and places she would always remember and hold dear. Wes and Ella attended many family functions, special occasions, and holidays over the years. Ella and Wes shared a unique love and companionship.
Ella had a special relationship with her sister-in-law Lucille (Joe) Kaliska. Ella and Lou shared many special occasions, family vacations and outings together. Lou often referred to Ella as her sister, and Ella felt the same of her.
Ella was a beautiful shining spirit in this world. She smiled and laughed freely and shared her love without reservation. She could make anyone feel special; she cared for her family and fellow man without judgment in the spirit of Jesus. Her children and grandchildren remember her goodbyes saying, “God watch over you”, and “I love you with all my heart”. The family would often joke about the “Bernie goodbye” - the protracted farewell that would extend out the door, into the driveway and sometimes onto the road. We just didn't want to say goodbye to her.
We will miss our dear, sweet and precious mother Ella greatly, and know the void she leaves will never be filled. She is cradled in God's loving arms and reunited with her beloved family that have gone before her. Without her in the world, the sun doesn't seem to shine as bright, and the spring breeze doesn't smell as sweet. She is loved; her family and loved ones are secure in the knowledge they will be reunited with her one day.
A special and heartfelt thank you must be extended to all those who made Ella’s time at the Riverview Manor and the Rainy River Long Term Care Home comfortable and enjoyable for her. She was always cared for with dignity, kindness, and respect. Their compassion was truly remarkable.
If desired, donations can be made in memory of Ella Bernie to the Rainy River Health Centre Long Term Care fund, Box 236, Rainy River, ON P0W 1L0. Northridge Funeral Home will also facilitate donations.
A celebration of life service will be held at the Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church with Pastor Ben Mast officiating April 14, 2022 10:30 a.m.. Interment at the Forest Lawn Cemetery will follow.
Ella leaves to mourn, her three children Robert (Tracey) Bernie, Debby (Rick Kawulia) Bernie and, Cyndi (Serge) Cossais, as well as her grandchildren Jonathon and Jacob Berrey, Emily and Jack Bernie, and Bodhi Kawulia. She also leaves to mourn numerous extended family members throughout Canada and the United States.
Ella was predeceased by her mother and father (John and Susan), her husband Gerald, and her eight siblings (Mary, Grace, Margaret, Jaye, Andrew, Lad, Joe and Irene).
Ella was born on August 6th, 1933 in Bienfait, Saskatchewan. Her parents emigrated from Czechoslovakia to Canada. The Kaliska family moved by rail to homestead north of Pinewood when Ella was still a baby. The Kaliska homestead was built on land cleared by hand in Sutherland Township. Ella, her brother Joe and sister Irene attended a one room school several miles from her home. She loved growing up on the farm and would tell stories to her children and grandchildren about her frontier life, and the toils and joys of farm life.
Ella was a true cowgirl and loved her horses. She rode her horse “Judy” and bronco “Billy” on the farm and worked hard to run the farm with her family. She put up hay, worked the crops, took care of the cattle, and cut wood on the farm. As a teenager she cut a load of spruce wood by hand with a “Swede saw” and hauled it to the road by horse all on her own. She sold the wood to buy a new radio battery, so her mother and father could listen to the radio at night after their work was done. She was an avid hunter and crack shot who loved partridge and deer season. She enjoyed taking part when her brothers Lad and Joe and their friends would come to the farm for the fall deer hunt. Ella would field dress, skin, and butcher her own deer without blinking an eye!
As a young girl, Ella loved to sing and play her Gibson guitar. She would tell stories of how, after the day’s work was done, the family would gather around the radio at night and listen to “The Grand Ole Opry.” Ella played and sang under the name “Black Rider” on CFOB radio in Fort Frances. She was a big hit! She had gotten a ride to Fort Frances in a pulp truck in true farm girl fashion! Her love for music continued and she would often entertain her grandchildren with her songs and music.
Ella was a creative soul and loved to draw and paint as a girl. She sketched many pictures of landscapes and nature and painted scenes with her beloved horses as a central theme.
Ella left the farm and worked at Hagen’s Resort in Nestor Falls where she met many people who would become lifelong friends. Following several seasons at Hagen’s, Ella worked as a Nurse’s Aide at La Verendrye Hospital. She loved helping people and had natural empathy and connection with patients. She left the hospital to help family on the farm, demonstrating her lifelong caring, love, and duty to her family.
Ella left the farm once more to work at the White Dog Falls hydro project. It was in White Dog Falls where she met her husband Gerry who had come to work there from Allumette Island on the Ottawa River. Ella and Gerry were married in 1959 in Keewatin. Shortly after, children Robert and Deborah were born in Fort Frances. The family lived briefly in Otter Rapids and Kapuskasing, Ontario where Gerry worked for Ontario Hydro. Upon returning to Fort Frances, Cyndi was born. Ella returned to the Rainy River area when the family moved back to Sutherland Township for two years and eventually to Rainy River where she lived until her passing.
While living in Rainy River, Ella worked for many years at Buena Vista Lodge in Morson, Ontario. Lodge owners Chuck and Dorothy Gate were her old friends from her days in Nestor Falls. She loved working at the lodge store, meeting new people, and making everyone feel special. She met her special friend Diane Anderson (Bonhomme) while working at Buena Vista, and the two shared many laughs and stories together.
Following her tenure at Buena Vista, Ella worked at the Rainy River Duty Free Shop for several years. She cared deeply for the owners, Glenn and Lisa Armstrong, and enjoyed her time with them working at the shop.
Although Ella chose to remain in Rainy River, she traveled regularly to be with her family and often visited Bob and Cyndi in Kenora and Dryden. She traveled to Australia three times to visit her daughter Debby and family as well. Ella's house was always the centre of family get togethers over the years. She loved her family more than anything and always welcomed company and made room no matter what. She always put her family first, and they were the great joy of her life. Her grandchildren were of special significance to her, and she doted on each and every one of them. The love, happiness, and joy of those days will never be forgotten by her family, children, grandchildren and friends.
Ella got a special birthday gift from her family in the form of a young colt named “Magnar’s Flaming Ace” that she loved to ride, spend time with, and take care of. Through her love of horses and the equine community she made many special friends including the Block family from Baudette, MN whom she loved dearly.
Ella met her special friend Wes Hasbargen from Baudette, MN in 1997, and a special chapter of her life began. Ella and Wes shared a love of God, of the farm and the country, and had many adventures together. Wes, always the traveller, introduced Ella to many people and places she would always remember and hold dear. Wes and Ella attended many family functions, special occasions, and holidays over the years. Ella and Wes shared a unique love and companionship.
Ella had a special relationship with her sister-in-law Lucille (Joe) Kaliska. Ella and Lou shared many special occasions, family vacations and outings together. Lou often referred to Ella as her sister, and Ella felt the same of her.
Ella was a beautiful shining spirit in this world. She smiled and laughed freely and shared her love without reservation. She could make anyone feel special; she cared for her family and fellow man without judgment in the spirit of Jesus. Her children and grandchildren remember her goodbyes saying, “God watch over you”, and “I love you with all my heart”. The family would often joke about the “Bernie goodbye” - the protracted farewell that would extend out the door, into the driveway and sometimes onto the road. We just didn't want to say goodbye to her.
We will miss our dear, sweet and precious mother Ella greatly, and know the void she leaves will never be filled. She is cradled in God's loving arms and reunited with her beloved family that have gone before her. Without her in the world, the sun doesn't seem to shine as bright, and the spring breeze doesn't smell as sweet. She is loved; her family and loved ones are secure in the knowledge they will be reunited with her one day.
A special and heartfelt thank you must be extended to all those who made Ella’s time at the Riverview Manor and the Rainy River Long Term Care Home comfortable and enjoyable for her. She was always cared for with dignity, kindness, and respect. Their compassion was truly remarkable.
If desired, donations can be made in memory of Ella Bernie to the Rainy River Health Centre Long Term Care fund, Box 236, Rainy River, ON P0W 1L0. Northridge Funeral Home will also facilitate donations.
A celebration of life service will be held at the Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church with Pastor Ben Mast officiating April 14, 2022 10:30 a.m.. Interment at the Forest Lawn Cemetery will follow.