From her passion for music to her determination in the classroom, second-year engineering student Elena Kustra was known for her determination, compassion, and enthusiasm.
Elena died by suicide on Oct. 10. On Oct. 24, friends and family gathered at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto for a celebration of her life.
Among those remembering Elena was her father, Rafal Kustra, who spoke to The Journal about the love and acceptance she received from her family while navigating the challenges of being a transgender woman.
Rafal said they discussed the discrimination transgender people face and Elena’s concerns about navigating the world as a transgender woman. He recalled telling her that, despite the world’s injustices, she could always turn to her closest circle of trust and love.
He remembered Elena as determined, saying that when she wanted something, she wouldn’t walk, but run.
At Queen’s, Elena studied electrical engineering. She enjoyed painting, music, science, physics, and math. Rafal said that throughout her childhood, she was always building things, including elaborate snow forts with her neighbour.
When deciding which university to attend, Elena was keen on Queen’s after hearing about the engineering community.
In an interview with The Journal, Elena’s older sister, Klaudia Kustra, ArtSci ’25, said campus visits during high school may have also influenced her decision.
Klaudia described her sister as one of the most amazing people she had ever known.
She recalled an inside joke dating back to a family ski trip when Elena was six. While comparing the views from their car windows and quoting Vines, Elena turned to her sister and asked, “Can I ask you a chicken?” instead of “secret.”
Klaudia said, for the rest of their lives, they would always ask each other, “Can I tell you a chicken?”
In September, Elena dyed herself purple and participated as an orientation leader during engineering traditions.
She also joined the Queen’s Space Engineering Team as part of its University Rover Challenge, serving as the power and software component lead for the project.
Her love for engineering was reflected during her funeral. Klaudia said guests were encouraged to wear purple to honour her passion.
Beyond helping incoming students during orientation, Elena supported her classmates academically.
“She loved helping others,” Rafal said.
In a statement to The Journal, Elena’s first-year orientation group, group three, remembered her enthusiasm for faculty traditions.
Madi Duquette, Sci ’28, said the group will remember her as “someone who was always excited about our events and traditions.”
“Group 3 will always hold her memory close. Her one-of-a-kind spirit and passion will not be forgotten,” the statement said.
Elena’s housemates, Devyn Vieau and Zoe O’Brien, both ArtSci ’29, also remembered her humour, compassion, and the joy she brought into their home.
“She was one of those people who you just cannot feel negatively towards,” Vieau said in a statement to The Journal. “Her smile lit up a room, like she would smile with her entire body.”
“She understood me in a way I haven’t found to be replicable,” she said.
O’Brien described Elena as someone who would always ask about her housemates’ days, regardless of how tired she was.
She also remembered climbing onto the roof with Elena on their first night living together, describing the joy they shared as “unimaginable.”
“She loved everything about engineering, the only thing she wished was that the community was more accepting, but even then, she never blamed anyone,” she said.
“I loved her with my entire heart, and I wish I could have more chances to tell her that,” Vieau said.
Tags
Engineering, student death, transgender
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