Obituary of Jannett Ruth Cusack

Jannett Ruth Cusack, age 91, of Hawley died Thursday, January 8, 2015 at home. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, John Thomas Cusack, in 2004. Her husband John was with the Marine Air Corps and flew in the South Pacific during World War II and fought in Iwo Jima. Mrs. Cusack was born December 16, 1923, in Berwyn, IL, and was the daughter of the late Elmer and Margaret (Hulsberg) Newman. She lived her childhood in LaGrange Park and Western Springs, IL, and attended Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, IL. She worked in a bank in Chicago and Sherman Williams Paint Co. in LaGrange. She received training in art at the Chicago Art Institute. She worked many years as a professional artist, skilled in both landscapes and portraits. She was a member of the LaGrange Art League in LaGrange, IL and the GAIA Art Gallery in New Buffalo, MI. She was able to work in many mediums, including pastels, acrylics, oils, charcoal, pencils and water colors. She lived in LaGrange Highlands and LaGrange, IL from 1950 to 2012. For many years, she and her husband owned a summer cabin on Lake Michigan in New Buffalo, MI called "Rebecca in the Woods." Her art studio was called "Barnside Studio." She moved to live with her son in Hawley, PA during the last two and a half years of her life. She is survived by two sons: Terrence Cusack and his wife Debbie of Wabash, IN, and Thomas Cusack and his wife Jean of Hawley; one sister: Lois Bryant of Indian Head Park, IL; five grandchildren: Alicia Fritz and her husband Stephen of Richmond, VA, Stephanie Willmert and her husband Chris of Wabash, IN, Lynn Hope and her husbandTom of Woodridge, IL, Karen Sedlar and her husband Scott of Corralles, NM, and Joshua Cusack of Hawley; and four great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Patrick Cusack, in 2014. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, January 10, at 3:00 PM at Honesdale Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 375 Dunn Rd., Honesdale. Inurnment will be held at a future date in Fairview Hills Cemetery, Willow Springs, IL. Private cremation was held at Lake Region Crematory, Lake Ariel. Memorials may be made to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 525 W Monroe St., Ste 900, Chicago, IL 60661 or www.nationalmssociety.org.