Bernadine Nakrayko

Bernadine Mary Nakrayko, nee Stewart was born May 24, 1934 and passed peacefully on March 20, 2023. She was the third child of William and Mary Stewart .  Their home was located northeast of Kuroki and was later moved to a location further north just off Highway 38.  Kuroki was considered their hometown and they attended St. Helen’s church.  Bernadine grew up with 2 brothers, Frank and James and one sister Marguerite.  She attended Scofield school where she made lifelong friends and received awards for her beautiful handwriting. She and her sister Marguerite learned the skills of cooking, baking and cleaning at an early age as their mother became ill.  As a young lady she worked at Gray’s Drugstore serving her customers swiftly and always with a smile. Bernadine met the love of her life, Steve Nakrayko, and they were married in November 1953. After they were married, they made their first home at Steve’s parents, Mike and Catherine Nakrayko.  Motherhood and homemaking came naturally to Bernadine and she busied herself with snuggling babies and utilizing her God-given talents of baking, cooking and cleaning.  The couple raised seven beautiful children, Brett, Anthony, Marilyn, Garry, Kathryn, Dwayne and Cheri. Bernadine was known to her family and to the community as a hard-working, kind and generous woman who loved to prepare delicious meals for her family and friends.  She loved spending quality family moments around the table and even batting the cleanup position in family ball games!  She loved her family deeply and cherished all their visits and phone calls.  Bernadine’s generosity and talents touched so many hearts.  Her exquisite cake decorating, perogies and cabbage rolls, infamous brown sugar candy and Christmas cakes became a tradition in many homes both family and community alike.  Her musicality was infectious and generated so much joy in the world.  She had a very deep faith and was very connected to her church. Her steadfast faith eased the pain of so many heartbreaking losses.  She was a godmother to many family members and friends over the years.  Her classic goodbye wave in the window will be etched in our hearts forever.

Bernadine was pre-deceased by her mother and father, William and Mary Stewart, her brothers, Frank, and James Stewart, her grandson, Joey, her husband, Steve, and daughters, Cheri and Kathy.

Bernadine is survived and lovingly remembered by Brett (Donna) and family Brooke , Kelly , Molly and Owen, B.J. Tess, Madison and Maisy; Anthony (Brenda) and family Jared, Megan, Jack, Jona, Noha, Britlyn, Jacs, Mandy, Gordie and Hadley, Paul, Sheila and Calvin; Marilyn (Emil) and family Karrie Anne, Albert , Brenna, Luke, Erinn, Devin and Quinn; Garry (Lillian) and family Garry Jr., Angela, Rylie, and Cole, Lisa, Nathan, Joey, Beckam. Katelyn and Daniel; Kathy’s family Neil, Nicole, Chad, Mallory, Greg, Zane, and Jacob; Dwayne(Heather) and family Kristin, Ashton, Brighton, Colette, Tyler, James, Jessica, Brooks, Kalli and Brennen; Cheri’s family (Dave, Mario, Jaiden, Kayla, Orrin, Tenley and Henry)