Mary Jayne Kusa / March 8, 1924-July 24, 2008

Published 11:06 pm Monday, July 28, 2008

By Staff
Mary Jayne Kusa, 84, of Dowagiac, passed away on Saturday, July 26, 2008, at her home, surrounded by family.
Mary Jayne's life began on March 8, 1924, in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of Frank and Mae (Dolesh) Stepanik.
She was united in marriage to James Raymond Kusa on Sept. 10, 1949, in Cleveland.
Mary Jayne was a registered nurse who specialized in emergency and intensive care nursing.
She served her country as an Army nurse during World War II.
She practiced nursing at Deaconess Hospital in Cleveland, Parma Hospital, Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac and Dowagiac Nursing Home.
She was a parishioner at Holy Maternity of Mary Catholic Church in Dowagiac.
Mary Jayne was an animal lover and was especially fond of her dog Rascal.
She volunteered with the American Cancer Society for many years.
Her loving family includes her daughters Lynn (Mark) Schermerhorn of Fort Collins, Colo., Corinne (Brent Duckworth) Kusa of Fort Collins, sons James Kusa of Dowagiac, Michael (Joanne) Kusa of Fort Collins, David (Dea) Kusa of Kalamazoo and Paul Kusa of Dowagiac; grandchildren Lee Arnold, Brock and Casey Schermerhorn, James Brent Duckworth, James Wyatt Kusa, Brittany, Nicholas, and Derek Kusa and Jill and Susan Kusa; and one sister Carole (Tony) Stanley of Novelty, Ohio.
Mary Jayne is preceded in death by her husband James in 1994.
Her family will gather with friends on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home, where a scripture service and time of sharing will be led by Father Leo Taubitz at 7:30 a.m.
Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated by Father Taubitz on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Holy Maternity of Mary Catholic Church.
She will be laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery, Dowagiac.
Memorial contributions in her name may be directed to Borgess VNA Hospice or the Cass County Council on Aging.
Please sign her guestbook and leave a memory of Mary Jayne at www.mclauchlin-clark.com.