PETER J. COUSINO II

BRISTOL — Peter J. Cousino II changed addresses on Sept. 30, 2023. He now resides in Heaven with his Savior. Peter was born on Aug. 11, 1955, to Peter and Bernadette (Blaise) Cousino. He spent his formative years attending schools in Bristol, Vt., and graduated from Mt Abraham Union High School in 1973.

He entered the U.S. Air Force and was in basic training within two weeks of graduating. Peter spent his first years of service in San Bernadino, Calif., where he married Susan Lawrence. His next tour was in Lakenheath, England, where his son Peter John the III was born. He also spent a tour in Mildenhall, England, before coming back to the U.S., where he was stationed in Albany, N.Y., where his daughter, Marcie was born. Peter’s third child, Linsey was born in Little Rock, Ark., where he served his last active duty. Peter then returned to Bristol, Vt., where his last son, Andrew was born, and he finished his military career by serving 12 years in the Air National Guard as a medic.

He retired from the service in 1994. After returning home and purchasing his family farm, Peter became an LPN. He worked for many years as a nurse at Helen Porter Nursing Home and Porter Hospital while simultaneously taking care of elderly people in his home. Although Peter’s first marriage did not work out, he and Sue raised their four children with love and respect separately. In May of 1994, Peter met Gail Bushey, the love of his life. Along with Gail, he fell in love with her two children, Kayla and Cody Brown. He grew to love these kids like his own. Gail and Peter were a match made in heaven, and on July 24, 2010, they were married. She was able to put up with his non-stop teasing and his barrage of jokes, both clean and questionable. She complimented him perfectly with a shared love of animals. Peter could deny her nothing, so they had alpacas, ducks, cows, horses, rabbits and many other farm animals. It was a true Old McDonald’s homestead.

There was nothing in the universe more important to Peter than his family. He adored his wife, children and especially his grandchildren. If you knew him, you knew that there was never a child whom he didn’t love or who didn’t love him. They were all his favorites and his kids. The sheer number of people who came to visit him and joke and laugh and love with him is mind boggling. You could count on hearing a joke or being pranked or scared by Peter every single time you saw him.

Many of you have likely experienced his kindness through vegetables grown in his own perfect garden. The porch was full of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers and squash to be shared with anyone who stopped in. And you had to go out and look at his Greenhouse to watch the vegetables grow every time you stopped in. Those vegetables even made it to campgrounds where Peter shared them with fellow campers. He had a love of camping and spent many summers making new friends in campgrounds.

Every 3rd of July, Peter and Gail hosted a huge party. Everyone brought something and the kids swam while the adults talked and then watched the fireworks together. He loved that party, and he enlisted the help of anyone he could get when he started planning it. But Christmas was his favorite holiday by far! He decorated extensively both inside and out. No less than four full-sized Christmas Trees were decorated every year. The living room was packed with presents for his family and his eyes were shining throughout the entire season.

Large family dinners were a common occurrence at the Cousino house. Peter loved to cook a turkey dinner for his family. He started listening to Christmas Carols in September, so thankfully he got to hear some of his favorites this year. Last year, Gail and Peter were able to knock a few things off his bucket list when they traveled to Yellowstone and to England, where they visited his old stomping grounds. He also visited Alaska last year and caught a huge Salmon.

Although Peter fought hard to stay with us who are still on this Earth, he eventually accepted that he would join the family who has gone before him and be there to welcome us when our time comes. Peter is predeceased by his parents, Peter and Bernadette Cousino, and brothers Eugene, Joseph, Lucius Sr., Guy (Pauline), Ambrose, and Thomas Cousino. He is also predeceased by two sisters, Marjorie Paquette (Emile) and Veronica Mayer (Raymond).

Peter leaves his devoted wife, Gail Bushey Cousino of Bristol, his four children, Peter John Cousino III (Tomomi) of Huntington, Marcie Cousino of Bristol, Lindsey Williams (Nicholas) of Middlebury and Andrew Cousino of Bristol; his stepchildren, Kayla and Cody Brown of Bristol; his precious grandchildren, Peter John Cousino IV, Lucus and Leah Williams and Sydnie Cousino.

He also leaves seven siblings: Yvonne Morgan of Middlebury, Roger Cousino (Denise) of Vergennes and South Carolina, Charles Cousino (Susan) of Vergennes and Florida, Anne Myrick (Peter Perlee) of Bridport, Patricia Atkins (Victor) of Lincoln, Linda Roscoe (Kirk) of Bristol and Mary Bingham (Robert) and Peter’s favorite of Bristol. Peter leaves his best friend and partner in crime, Lucius Cousino Jr., with great reluctance. He also leaves in Peter’s own words, “the daughter who adopted him” Gina Wrest of Essex Jct. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention Java and Sassy, the two special dogs who guarded him and loved him as much as he loved them. Peter leaves a multitude of nieces and nephews and special friends whom he loved dearly.

Peter, “We will think of you as if you are in your prime, Handsome, Strong and always on time. A man admired by people far and wide. And especially to us who knew you inside.”

Visiting hours were held on Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Brown-McClay Funeral Home in Bristol. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5, at St. Ambrose Church in Bristol. Interment will be at Mt. St Joseph Cemetery in Bristol. To send online condolences to his family please visit www.brownmcclayfuneralhomes.com.◊