Ermina Frances Kosnack

Ermina Frances Kosnack, 94, of Brewster MA, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 26, 2022. Mena’s strength, positivity, kindness, and love for life were simply amazing through to her final days.

Mena was born in Springfield MA to Andrew and Tekla (Godek) Wadja on February 12, 1928. She loved being part of a tight-knit, large family. She remained close with her eight siblings the entirety of their lives. She was proud of her Polish heritage, honoring it by sharing food, traditions and stories of her ancestry.

On May 5th in 1954 Mena married the love of her life, James Kosnack. Mena and Jim cherished their time together. They loved a date night of dancing, a day of fishing on the Quabbin Reservoir, a weekend of camping, working together to maintain their beautiful gardens, and most especially raising their three daughters. Jim and Mena brought people together. Their house was a gathering place for anyone who wanted to enjoy life, eat great food, dance until their shoes fell off and sing until their voices were hoarse. To this day, family and friends reminisce about attending “the best” parties at Jim and Mena’s house. One of the most memorable was when they renewed their vows, on the 25th anniversary, of the day they were wed. It was a true celebration of their great love story.

Mena and Jim loved Cape Cod. Each summer they would pack up their daughters and spend weeks at a time camping at Nickerson State Park and playing on Nauset Beach. In the mid 1980’s, after Jim’s death, Mena purchased a home in Brewster that became a summer place for her and her daughters and a Cape Cod Retreat for extended family and friends. So many of Mena’s brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and friends enjoyed her hospitality. And she was happiest when her house was full of people, love and laughter.

Starting out as a shy child, Mena came in to her own when she joined St Patrick Church. She and Jim became involved in the parish around the time their oldest daughter Donna was born. Some of their greatest friendships developed there, and so did Mena’s talent. She was a member of the St. Patrick’s Women’s Club and joined the committee that organized the annual fund-raising Variety Show. She made costumes, created sets, wrote and choreographed routines and graced the stage as a star performer. Mena found her voice and continued to use it every day. Music constantly played in her home, and her delightful voice always accompanied. Some of her favorites included The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Tony Bennett, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Mario Lanza, Andrea Boccelli and Josh Groban.

Mena maintained a beautiful home, both aesthetically and with feelings of welcome and joy. She loved the outdoors, and her lovely gardens boasted her green thumb. She had a knack for painting and wallpapering, creating warm spaces that expressed her unique taste. Her painting abilities surpassed that of rolling color on walls. She was an accomplished artist, tackling mixed mediums of pastels, oils and watercolors. Her sewing machine was often humming along, fulfilling the need at hand, maybe some carefully crafted window treatments, a dainty party dress, an emergency alteration or an adorable Halloween costume. Her collection of cooking aprons was worn out on the sides where she repeatedly wiped her hands as she recreated her mother’s recipes or conceived something of her own. She would cook by smell and taste, illustrated by her many recipes that just list ingredients and no specific units of measure. Mena comforted you with the foods that healed your soul. She listened, and then prepared your favorites. Meatloaf, fish cakes, pierogis, chicken, chocolate pudding pie, carrot cake or crème Brulé – you knew it was for you, and only you, even though others were partaking. Invariably her home welcomed you with the aroma of home cooking and her refrigerator always had enough supplies to pull off an impromptu party for twenty people.

In the late 1980’s, Mena took her skills outside the home and into the workplace. She became a Paraprofessional at Springfield’s Washington School, where she assisted in teaching children with special needs. After several years, she left this rewarding work to relocate to Cape Cod permanently. She spent many years as the Office Assistant at a dental practice in Wellfleet, where she forged friendships with staff and patients. She ended her professional career as a Home Companion to a wonderful woman in Orleans, who became a beloved part of our family. Mena’s commitment to caregiving continued throughout her life. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister and friend.

Decades ago, Mena opened her home to her youngest sister, Joanne. Although opposites, they complimented one another. Mena collected too much tchotchke, Joanne preferred things neat. What they both loved was entertaining, cooking, and the arts. They truly appreciated the beauty and talent around them. They made great friends through volunteerism and commitment to their individual faiths. Mena and Joanne were a great team, and our family is blessed to have had these amazing women in our lives who loved us with all their hearts.

Ermina is predeceased by her husband Jim, her parents Tekla and Andrew, her sisters Emily and Joanne and her four brothers Edward, Richard, Chester and Francis.

Ermina is survived by her three daughters: Donna Davis and her husband Kenny of Harwich; Leah Fennell and her husband Skip of Eastham; Andrea Duplesys of Colorado. She also leaves her seven grandchildren: Rob, Chris, Catherine, James, Cole, Jesse and Bella, and six great grandchildren. Ermina is also survived by her loving sisters Jane Wanda and Helena and several generations of nieces and nephews.

Ermina and her family are grateful to the staff at Pleasant Bay Nursing and Rehabilitation for their love and kindness over the past 12 months and especially for making her final days comfortable and peaceful. Thank you to Gretchen, Laurel and Sevena of Beacon Hospice for supporting all of us – you are truly special people. If you would like to assist the wonderful work of Beacon Hospice, in the name of Ermina, you can do so by sharing a donation to Beacon Hospice, 68 Center Street, Unit 19, Hyannis, MA 02601.

A celebration of Ermina’s remarkable life will be held on Thursday, May 4, 2023. Memorial Visitation will be held from 10 - 11:30 AM with a Celebration of Ermina's life beginning at 11:30 AM at Nickerson Funeral Home, 77 Eldredge Park Way, Orleans, MA. We encourage you to honor Mena by brightening someone’s day with a warm smile, thank everyone for the small things and always remember that life is wonderful.

Fond expression of sympathy and service information may be found at www.nickersonfunerals.com