Mary Audrey Cusic
September 9, 1929 ~ December 29, 2013
Services:
A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, January 3, 2014 at 1:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Leonardtown, MD with Deacon Joseph Lloyd officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens Leonardtown, MD.
Visitation:
The family will receive friends on Friday, January 3, 2014 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Leonardtown, MD.
Mary Audrey Cusic, 84, of Mechanicsville, MD earned her angel wings on December 29, 2013 at the Hospice House of St. Mary’s in Callaway, Maryland, after a brave and hard-fought battle with cancer.
Born September 9, 1929, in Compton, MD, she was the daughter of Elizabeth Catherine Burch Higgs and Joseph Herbert Higgs. She attended Margaret Brent High School in Helen, MD. She lived her entire life in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, raising a family with her late husband, John Philip Cusic, to whom she was married on June 21, 1946 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Leonardtown, MD. She was a past member of the DAV, where she once held position Office of Treasurer. Being of Catholic Faith, enjoyed attending Immaculate Conception Church in her younger years and St. Joseph Church in later years, when health allowed.
She is survived by her beloved children: Sandra (Bob) Neave of Waldorf, MD, Brenda Kuhlmann of Callaway, MD, and George (Dreama) Cusic of Mechanicsville, MD, her sisters, Dorothy Lampkins, and Betty Unkle, and her brother, Francis Higgs, 13 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and her beloved poodle, Prince. She was predeceased by her parents, Herbert and Bessy Higgs, her husband of 56 years, John Philip Cusic, her son, Timothy Cusic, her great-grandson, Brandon Weber, and her siblings, Gladys Knott and Herbert Higgs, Jr.
She was recently blessed to celebrate her 84th birthday party with her children and spouses, grand and great grandchildren, and her siblings. She filled her life as a homemaker, a caretaker, a devoted wife, loving mother, grand and great-grandmother. She was a kind and wonderful spirit, full of grace and gratitude, with the faith of an angel and patience of a saint. She took joy in sharing with, caring for, and serving those around her. Those lucky to be in her presence were constantly reminded of her concern for their welfare and comfort, even in her last days. She made it no secret that her “loved Ones” were unconditionally loved. She was known for her gardening, her pink and purple petunias and pansies, her love for her “poodle doodle” and kindness to animals. She also enjoyed yard sales and thrift shops, road trips with family, playing the organ, listening to Christian and county music and was also known for her one of a kind So. MD. Stuffed ham, and her ability to fill a belly upon crossing the threshold to her home.
The family will receive friends from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Leonardtown, MD. A Funeral Service will follow at 1:00 PM in the Funeral Home Chapel with Deacon Joseph Lloyd officiating. Interment will follow at Charles Memorial Gardens Leonardtown, MD. Pallbearers will be her grandsons; P.J. Joy, Mark Cusic, John Cusic, Jr. and her great grandsons, David Clements, Chris Reulet, and Michael Reulet.
Memorial contributions in Audrey’s name may be made to those who took wonderful care of her and honored her dignity in her last weeks; Hospice of St. Mary’s P.O. box 625 Leonardtown, MD 20650.
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“George, Sandra, & Brenda, I am so sorry for the loss of your mom. She was a beautiful lady. May god be with you all through this time. Time will help. “
“We will miss you Grandma! xoxo”
“I love seeing this of your dear Mother and Grandma. Thank God for her wonderful part in all of your lives.”
“Mom, Aunt Brenda, and Uncle George, may you find comfort and God’s strength. Grandma will forever be in our hearts.”
“Our prayers are with all family members during this time of sadness, Aunt Audrey will be remembered in our prayers. May she rest in peace.”
“Sandra, Brenda and George we are sorry for your loss. We know she is in a better place with Uncle Philip. If you need anything please let us know.”
“Great Nana, Right now, you are probably partying it up with Great Granddaddy up in Heaven:). But I’d like you thank you for your time on earth: listening to my mini piano recitals, giving me a back scratch most times I visited, and hosting those fun Easter celebrations and egg hunts at your house; creating something to look forward to every visit. Even through your sickness, you somehow found a way to put others before yourself. I’d like to use you as a role model in my life, for I’d like to be a loving and caring sister, daughter, wife, mother, grand mother, and great grand mother as you once were. I will always love and miss you Great Nana <3"
“George, our deepest sympathy to you and your family. Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.”
” ~Letter from Heaven~ Dear ~ Sandra ~ Brenda~ George When tomorrow starts without me, and I’m not here to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes,filled with tears for me, I wish so much you wouldn’t cry. the way you did today, While thinking of the many things, we didn’t get to say. I know how much you love me, as much as I love you, And each time you think of me, I know you’ll miss me too. When Tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re apart, for every time you think of me, I’m right there in your heart~ Grandma we all miss you so much~ Kim and Family Brian P.J. and Family and Jeanna and Family”
“My dear sweet Moma ~ your unconditional love, faith of an angel and patience of a saint, were my inspiration and so much a part of who I am today. I was so lucky God blessed me with you as my Moma! <3 Your earthly journey is done and your spiritual journey has begun ^j^. I am relieved you are pain free of your trials and tribulations, soaring w/the angels, Daddy & Timmy and loved ones gone before you. I love and will miss you so very much and shall carry your memories in my heart forever. Rest assured, we will see you shining through in our family forever more, as you smile upon us from above. Godspeed and I'll always look for your heaven sent messages. XO "
“So sorry to hear of your Mothers passing, George. Pray God`s love will surround the family during this time of sorrow. “
“Dear Cousins – I am so very sorry for your loss and sorry I wasn’t physically able to attend the services. Aunt Audrey was a lovely lady and I am so thankful to have visited her in recent times. She is in God’s hands and resting in her new eternal home. You are all in my prayers.”
“To Brenda and the Cusic Family, We are so sorry for the loss of your Mother. Our thoughts and prayers to you and your Family at this most difficult time. “
“I can’t put in words how sorry I am about your mom. I only got to know her just a brief time when mom was her room mate in the nursing home, but I can tell you she an angel on earth so I KNOW shes an angel in heaven. I know what you guys are going through, im still going thriugh it, but as we know they aren’t suffering ANY more and they are finally HOME with GOD and probably having a good old time. My prayers are with all of you, Love & God bless you”
“Sandra and Brenda So sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you.”
“I was so blessed to have such and kind and loving, selfless grandma. Mom, Aunt Brenda, and Uncle George, may her spirit shine in you always. Love always ~”
“Brenda, So sorry to hear of Ur mothers passing… Our thoughts & prayers are w/U. God bless!”
“Dear Grandma, Today is Valentine’s Day, a day of love and pink things, and my mind drifts to you. I find that happens a lot lately. It’s funny how we suddenly cherish things and loved ones more often when they are no longer in our grasp. All the falling snow this winter has reminded me of you. I have watched snowflakes fall to the ground, each one individually going with the flow, landing where they might, gracefully and peacefully. They are there in mid-air, travelling as individual drifting gems, and they land to join as part of a whole, blanketing the earth in beauty. Then the sparkling begins. You lived your life in that way, gracefully and beautifully, eventually joining the spirit world as you went out in a blanket of snow on a very cold December day. Snow is not my only reminder of you. There are so many, and I know as time goes on, there will be many more. I think of you when I see fuzzy dogs, wild birds, purple flowers, and angels of all kinds, and believe it or not, I think of you when I see a hamburger. I remember how much you enjoyed being taken out for a ‘bite to eat.’ You would ‘eat like a bird,’ often ordering from the kids menu, and you would treat that meal (even a hamburger) like it was a top dollar steak, enjoying every bite, and talking about it with gratitude. Most often, I think of you when I see my mother’s face. I have no doubt in my mind that it was your love and mothering that made her the amazing parent that she is. Thank you for that immeasurable gift. I’ve said before that love runs downhill. It started with you, and for that I will be forever grateful. It’s my hope to carry on your ways of thinking and being… having gratitude for small things, seeing beauty in things that most people wouldn’t notice, and finding the good in all people. Thank you for your example. You are loved and missed. ~ Be safe. Tammy “