Obituary of Beruta Goulay

Bert passed away peacefully at the Algoma Residential Community Hospice (ARCH) on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, following a short illness.

Bert was born in Kapuskasing, Ontario to Walter and Angela Kunce on August 17, 1932. She moved to Hearst, Ontario when she was a young woman where she worked for the Imperial Bank (now CIBC). She met Peter Goulay there and they were soon “a thing”. However, they were too young and parted ways. Bert kept busy working and spent some time in California with her cousins. After a few years she reconnected with Peter and were soon married. They built a house in Sault Ste. Marie and soon had a large family of 4 girls. Bert left her job at the bank and took on the best role of her life as a full-time homemaker. In 1969, Bert and Peter bought the property at Sand Point and built the much-loved family cottage, the place Bert referred to “the place to always come home to”.

Through the years, Bert was many things to many people. She was a super mom to her girls, always there to love and comfort them and tuck them in when they were children. She was a healer and a wonderful caretaker, especially to her mother and to her daughter Debbie during their illnesses. She was a great seamstress and sewed most of their children’s clothes and funky Hallowe’en costumes when they were little. She was a referee, always present to break up the many squabbles that erupted between her girls (and there were many, LOL). She was a prankster, had a great sense of humour and loved to laugh.  As a young teen she even partook in the temporary “borrowing” of a police car (small town Kapuskasing, we say no more).

She was an expert knitter, and every grandchild had beautiful layettes and sweaters made with love by their grandma. She was well known for her culinary skills by her family and friends. Her girls and grandkids have been working a lifetime to try to master mom’s amazing recipes, especially her homemade pizza dough, cabbage rolls and blueberry cake/pie. Her grandchildren referred to her as “Pie Grandma” because of her delicious pies and sweets. Everyone who stopped by knew they would be in for a treat, especially if her famous bean soup was on the stove. Her daughters and granddaughters have the secret recipe and are carrying on the tradition.

It was a regular occurrence for people to pop over for a visit coincidentally at mealtime LOL.  She loved to play cards, especially Euchre and she was very good, even when Peter had nothing (those who played cards with them will understand). She loved spending time at the cottage with her family, tending to the vegetable garden, and was content to spend her last days there, snuggled in her cozy, surrounded by and cared for by Peter and the rest of the family. She had a strong belief in God and looked forward to being reunited in Heaven.

Dear daughter of the late Walter and Angela Kunce. Loving wife of almost 67 years to Peter Goulay. Cherished mom to her four daughters Susan Dodd, Debbie Witty, Nancy Goulay-Partridge and Patti Wilson. Dearest mother-in-law to Gary Witty, Vince Partridge and Danny Wilson. Loving grandma of Michael Tomas (Krysie), Danny Tomas, Sonja Dodd (Sean), Ambrosia Dodd (Mark), Alex Partridge, Nick Partridge and Katie Partridge. Dear great-grandma of Liam and Madison Ure, Danni and Quinn Simpson, and Madelyne and Wesley Tomas. Dear sister of Helen Porter (Dick), late Bill Kunce (late Dottie) and the late Gana Alexandruk (Fred).  Loving sister-in-law of Julius Goulay, late Albert Goulay (late Annie), late Felix Goulay (Mary), late Millie Goulay, late Margaret Woodliffe and the late Tony Goulay. Dear Auntie Bert to her many nieces and nephews. She will be sadly missed by all her friends and neighbours at Sand Point, Batchawana Bay and in the Sault.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Bert on Saturday, August 2, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the family cottage (“camp”) at 3 Sand Point Road, Batchawana Bay. (Drive approximately 64 km on Highway 17 North and take a left hand turn on Sand Point Road (it is on Google map). Drive about 1km following the signs towards the point).  Family and friends are welcome to attend and celebrate Bert’s life. Cremation has taken place.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to ARCH or the Canadian Cancer Society.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to Tom and Angela for being such great neighbours during this sad time. Many thanks to all the wonderful nurses and personal support workers at ParaMed and Bayshore for helping to keep Bert comfortable at the camp for the past three weeks, especially Sierra, Nancy, Melina, and Susan. 

Thank you to Shane at Medi-gas for bringing up the necessary equipment to the cottage to help mom. Thank you to Kari-Lynn at Ontario Health for helping to coordinate Bert’s care so quickly in her final weeks. Thank you to ARCH for all your help in making Bert’s last day so comfortable for her and her family. It meant so much to all of them.

Special thanks to Dr. O’Brien, Dr. Opryszczko, Dr. Anagnostopoulos, and Dr. Russell for all your compassionate and relentless attention to Bert’s care.  Father Michael, thank you so much for the visit.  It was very comforting to Bert. And a big thank you to everyone else who helped the family during this time. You are too numerous to mention but every little thing was appreciated by Bert and the family.

Arrangements entrusted to Northwood Funeral Home Cremation and Reception Centre (942 Great Northern Rd, 705-945-7758). Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be offered at www.northwoodfuneral.com.

“Don’t cry for me now I have died, for I’m still here I’m by your side,
My body’s gone but my soul is here, please don’t shed another tear,
I am still here I’m all around, only my body lies in the ground.
I am the snowflake that kisses your nose, I am the frost that nips your toes,
I am the sun, bringing you light, I am the star, shining so bright.
I am the rain, refreshing the earth, I am the laughter, I am the mirth.
I am the bird, up in the sky, I am the cloud, that’s drifting by,
I am the thoughts, inside your head. While I’m still there, I can’t be dead.”
(author unknown)