Peacefully at home on Monday July 7, 2025. Erika Kwiatkowski age 70 of Kemptville. Loving and proud Mom of Andrew Morin (Tracy) and Emily Morin. Cherished Babcha of Lilly Morin. Longtime partner of Bruce Cusson. Missed by her Grand dogs Ora Jane Bean, Panda and Rosie, grand cats, grand horses and grand chickens. Predeceased by her parents Genowefa “Genevieve” (Kokocinska) and Tadeusz Kwiatkowski.
By Erika’s request Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers donations in Memory of Erika may be made to the Beth Donovan Hospice or Sandy Pines Wildlife Rescue.
Erika brought love and light to the many hearts and lives she’s touched throughout her time here, her strength of spirit and generous heart touched everyone and everything. Artistic, creative, with a love for animals, nature, dancing, fast cars and adventure. Without a doubt she is dancing up in those clouds.
“Who rescued who”
Arrangements entrusted to Byers Funeral Home, South Mountain (613-989-3836).
Online condolences may be shared at www.byersfuneralhomeinc.ca
5 Condolences for Erika Ann Kwiatkowski
Condolences(5)
Peggy says
July 10, 2025 at 8:03 pmAlthough our friendship was brief, I will treasure fond memories of a very strong and kind soul. Erika loved her family dearly, appreciated all you did for her and cherished her regular Thursday visits with Lilly.
With sincere sympathy and gratitude for our visits, Peggy
p.s. I love this picture 🙂
Don McIntosh says
July 13, 2025 at 12:11 pmI first met Erika on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at the dance upstairs in the Chesterville Community Centre. I had been dancing there every couple of months with my ex-wife for some years. I had driven down in a rented electric car, because I knew there was a charger across the river from the community center, and I wanted to get experience at keeping one charged up. I had asked a partner to go with me, but she begged off sick. I had the car booked, though, so I drove down to Chesterville anyway, figuring on going for dinner while the car charged. But when I got there, nothing was open. Traditionally, dances outside the city are attended by people who come with their dance partner, and they don’t dance with anybody else. I didn’t think there would be anybody at the dance for me to dance with, but I went anyway, figuring on chatting with Dennis Taylor, who organizes the dances. But when I got there, there was one extra follow, Erika, and I danced with her. Well, I shared her with Dennis. Soon, I was going down to Chesterville to attend the dances more often, sometimes to dance with my ex-wife, and sometimes to dance with Erika.
By and by, Erika wanted to take lessons in Chesterville. I had not really been dancing except occasionally with my ex-wife since 2016. Not only that, but I did not want to drive a gasoline powered car to Chesterville every week. So, I took the plunge and bought an electric one. I would never have said that I’d quit dancing because I didn’t want to burn the fossil fuels, but within a month after I purchased the car, I was up to five nights a week. And so, Erika guided me back onto the dance floor and into an electric car in one go.
More recently, Erika lost her voice. We were still dancing periodically in Chesterville at the time, and I sent her a text asking how she saw things unfolding. She said that I didn’t need to bring anything because she brought a white board with her everywhere she went in case she wanted to say something. And she added, “You’re the one with the voice, think of something to entertain me!” Around the turn of the century, I was going through a lot of problems with unemployment. To help me deal with it, emotionally, I had memorized a lot of songs. I used them to terrorize a bicycle club, but that’s another story. I still had lists of those songs, and lyrics, too, so it didn’t take a lot of effort to brush up on them, and Erika and I would disappear into the hallway at dances and I would sing my new offerings for her. This refreshed my repertoire, and at Christmas time, I jetted out to the west coast to visit my sister (I tell her she’s the only woman on earth that I burn fossil fuels for). I entertained my sister and my cousin and her husband and a strange thing happened. They encouraged me! This was not like the bicycle club, 20 years earlier. Soon I was joining singing groups and at one of the singing groups sheet music appeared. From my childhood and adolescence I remembered various music mnemonic devices: “All Cows Eat Grass” and “Every Good Boy Deserves Fun”. I booked a private lesson with a music teacher to explore the question, “Where am I going with this music stuff?” So now, I am taking piano lessons. So electric car, dancing, singing and piano. Erika’s effect on me will live on at least till it’s my turn to die.
I’m thankful for the new wonders Erika has nudged me towards. I will miss her and I offer condolences to her family.
Emily says
July 13, 2025 at 4:58 pmThank you Peggy. You will forever be a wonderful part of all our stories during this time. She’s wearing one of my horse show outfits to a cowboy themed part in this picture lol. This is who she was, fun loving social butterfly 🦋
Judy Murray says
August 19, 2025 at 2:54 pmI met Erika in January, 2023 at soapstone carving. She was a warm and kind person. She welcomed me to the group and made me feel like a part of the carving family. She was always interested in other people and shared her interests.
She was so proud of her family and cherished her time with Lilly.
I will miss her.
My sincere condolences to her family.
Emily morin says
August 31, 2025 at 2:16 pmThank you for your kind words❤️
Obituary Sign Up:
Follow Us