VERNEST SITUM

June 3, 1945 to October 12, 2025
Vernest Situm (Bisson) passed away with family by her side in her 80th year at St. Joseph's Hospital on Sunday evening after a brief illness.

Vernest was born in Port Arthur, ON, to Edgar and Helen (Forslund) Bisson. The eldest of four daughters, (Marlene, Charmaine and Rhonda) Vernest was the big sister, and took that position to heart. Early in Vernest's life the Bisson family moved out to Saskatoon - recommended by the doctor as Vernest had asthma - and it was thought that the dry air of the west would cure the childhood illness. That it did and the family moved back to Port Arthur where Vernest would attend and graduate from Port Arthur Collegiate.

Vernest then married her husband of 60 years, Joseph Situm, an immigrant from Croatia. They would have three children, Liana, Milan and Anthony . They would raise their family on Ambrose Street behind Joe's corner store, the Algoma Mini Mart. During that time, Vernest enrolled at the Lakehead Regional School of Nurses Assistants, where her life calling of a nurse would be fulfilled. Graduating in 1972, Vernest worked at several institutions in Thunder Bay - Dawson Court, Port Arthur General Hospital, and then finally landing at St. Joseph's where she served as a ward nurse from 1979 to 1998. During that time after the kids finished high school, Vernest and Joe travelled to the States where she took nursing contracts and they lived from California to Florida and several points in between. Vernest found this work extremely challenging and loved every moment of it, making lasting friendships along the way. Vernest was an exceptional nurse and knew her job and made sure all around her knew theirs as well. Vernest was respected for her nursing skills, her professionalism and her patient care. If Vernest was looking after you, you had no choice but to get better. Even as a patient herself, Vernest would offer guidance and advice, always being a kind teacher to younger nurses around her.

Vernest was extremely proud of her family, including her nieces and nephews and their children. She was always quick to boast about the latest accomplishments of her grandchildren and was thrilled to be a great grandmother to Victoria and Carolyn.

Vernest was predeceased by her parents Edgar and Helen, her husband Joe, sister Charmaine, son-in-law Bradley Wright, and brother-in-law Gregg Yurick. She is survived by her sisters Marlene Yurick and Rhonda Greer, her daughter, Liana (Greg), son, Milan (Heather) grandchildren Arthur (Katherine), Anthony, Emily (Bennett) and Milan Jr, son Anthony (Tania) grandchildren Finn and Bradley. She will be missed greatly by her nieces and nephews not only in Canada but Croatia as well, especially by her great nieces Hope and Faith Norton.

There will be a celebration of life on Monday October 20, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.in the chapel of Sargent and Son Funeral Chapel, 21 N. Court Street. Donations can be made to the St Joseph's Care Group in the Situm name.

On-line condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com