A 45-year family tradition ended this week with the retirement of Shirley Kushava as head cook at Lena School. Kushava ended her 29-year career in food service, the past 16 years spent as head cook.
Kushava comes from a long line of cooks who dished up meals at the school. Her great-aunt Margaret Patenaude was head cook from 1969-1979. Her mother, Angie Patenaude, was head cook from 1979-1998.
Kushava started as a substitute cook in 1982, then was hired as an assistant cook in 1985 and was named head cook in 1998 after her mother retired.
“I truly cared about my job, the people I worked with and especially the students,” she said. “I would do just about anything for anyone. I put my all in this job and took pride in it. And I made good stuff.”
Kushava’s favorite memories in the kitchen included preparing the LEA spaghetti suppers, throwing a surprise party for Jeff Hermersmann, head of the maintenance department, helping with a surprise celebration for Connie Kramer given by her high school band students, working with the National Honor Society students and advisers making Valentine heart cookies each year, and watching the kids grow up.
Aside from her duties in the kitchen, Kushava made the king’s crown for the high school prom and homecoming for many years.
Kushava graduated from Lena High School in 1972. She and her husband, Darrell, married for 41 years, have three daughters and four grandchildren. Kushava enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, sewing, baking, crocheting, gardening and making jewelry with her granddaughter.
Denise Diehlmann, an assistant cook, will replace Kushava as head cook.
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