Gini (Virginia) Kisska

December 29, 1924 – June 16, 2019

My mother Gini (Virginia) Kisska passed away peacefully at St. Francis Nursing Home in Bellingham on June 16.  She was 94 years old.

Gini was born and raised in Shanghai, China until she was 13 years old. Her father started the Ford Motor Car business there in the early 1920s. He sold a million dollars' worth of cars back then. My Mom was raised with 8 servants – butler, chauffeur, nannies, etc. and a Russian governess who spoke only French to the children. Gini was the youngest of 4 – Nick, Mary, David, Gini – all 2 years apart. Because the family traveled so much, Mom had been around the world 3 times by the age of 8, and never had a full year of school until 10th grade. Her father felt experiencing other countries and cultures was an education in itself.

The Communists came in and took over in 1936. My Grandfather lost all his wealth and had to start over again. The family moved back to the States to Santa Barbara, CA.  Mom attended Bishops – a private Catholic school for 2 years where she met her life-long friend Ruth Spalding at the age of 13. She then attended Santa Barbara High School and went on to graduate from Stanford Univ. with a 4 year degree.

 In 1944 Mom married Douglas Mackenzie, a Navy man who was studying to be a doctor.

They lived in San Francisco and had 3 little girls – Sally, Kim and Cindy – all 3 were born before the eldest was two and a half – back in the day of cloth diapers and sterilizing bottles!

Mom divorced Doug when their youngest was 3 years old. She moved with her 3 children to Danville, CA where she met and married Lester Kisska on Sept. 6, 1957. Les was a young man from Czechoslovakia, studying at Univ. of California. A year later we moved to Moscow, Idaho where Dad studied Forestry and graduated from the Univ. of Idaho. Dad hadn't quite mastered the English language yet, while Mom's written grammar was excellent, and so she helped him write all his papers and he passed with flying colors.

After 2 years the family moved to Astoria, OR where Dad worked as a Forester and Mom was a stay at home Mom. In 1960, we moved to Vancouver, B.C.  My Grandfather had started 5 Kings Drive-In Hamburger Restaurants around the Vancouver area and offered Dad a job as manager. During this time, Mom took up oil painting and painted many magnificent scenes of nature.

In 1969 my parents bought a 150 acre farm in Ferndale, WA. where they lived for 10 years. Mom worked very hard alongside Dad in the raspberry fields, and Dad also sold Massey Ferguson tractors in Lynden. In 1980 Mom and Dad divorced, and Mom moved to Bellingham, where she worked at Head Start and also Hospice. In 1984 she moved to Placerville, CA to be near her youngest daughter Cindy and her grandson Reuben. In 1995 they all moved Vancouver, WA. Then in 1997, Gini moved to Lynden, WA while Cindy and Reuben moved to the Ferndale farm. Mom lived in Lynden for 15 years, before she started developing dementia and went into assisted living, and finally to St. Francis.

Mom was a marvelous artist, painting many beautiful landscapes of lakes, mountains, meadows and pastel skies. These were reflections of her own beautiful soul. My Mother was a deeply spiritual person and shared her kind generous heart and natural wisdom, and had a wonderful sense of humor. Once when she was tired, after a busy day visiting her oldest daughter Sara (Sally) – Sara asked her, "Mom, are you up for watching a movie?" Mom replied, "I'm up for anything, as long as I'm lying down!" 

Many years ago, Mom used to say, "When we die, I think we go on the Best Vacation of a Life-Time!" and she would say it with a big smile and so much joy. I'm sure that is where she is now. Not lying down, but flying around with her Angel Wings, no longer encumbered by her physical body, but free to help other souls and take in all the beautiful divine fresh sights and sounds of a much-needed, well-earned HEAVENLY Vacation of a Life-Time!

Mom is preceded in death by her daughter Kim (Kathy) Kisska in 2005. She is survived by her daughter Sara (D'Arcy) Pommier, granddaughter Holly (Alan Boniface) Pommier and great-granddaughter Madeleine Pommier-Boniface. Also, grandson Mathew (Jessica) Pommier, and great-grandchildren Mya and Henry Pommier. Also, daughter Cindy Kisska and grandson Reuben Wolff. Mom loved and was loved by all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be dearly missed. –By Cindy Kisska