Obituary of Mary Anne Kianka

Mary Anne (McDonald) Kianka, age 92, of Westvale NY, passed peacefully from her physical presence in this world, this past Wednesday, January 6th, 2021. According to Mary Anne, she's the current winner of that days I***h Lottery. I never really knew what she meant by that then but, anyhow, "her number came up", as she would always say, while reading obit sections…. Obviously her wit, wisdom, many talents, love & warm hugs will be dearly missed and a great loss to all. Those that are descendants & those that knew her, all now have part of her to carry in their perpetual memory, to have & hold dear. Mary Anne was a native of Syracuse NY, growing up in Elmira NY, and a graduate of Southside High School there. She was an original founding parishioner & communicant of St. Charles Borromeo Church Westvale, NY as well as a past member of the Alter Rosary society. Mary Anne is survived by four sons, Thomas (Linda), John J. (Christine), Michael (Roberta) & Christopher (Rafaela Celin), 9 Grandchildren & 11 Great Grandchildren, along with her many cousins, nephew & nieces of whom she also held very dear to her heart. She was pre deceased by her grand-daughters Tricilla Kianka & Elisabeth Scouten, Her Sisters Edna, Betty & Dorothy, Brothers Edward, & Richard, Mother Sophia & Father Edward. She was an avid flower gardener in her time, raising many beautiful Roses alongside her Succulent Rock Garden. Her Raspberries, Pears & Rhubarb always meant delicious Pies & Preserves. Canning peaches, jams, preserve & pickling alongside her sisters & mom in their kitchens or basements was always a major gabfest to observe, hear & enjoy. While a homemaker & mother, she reveled in helping her children grow & enjoy the many sports, swimming, camping opportunities that arose, but not loosing focus on the importance of education. She cherished time visiting her children & grandchildren, helping out, babysitting with them & spending time cooking baking & playing many games with them. Mary Anne was also an accomplished pitch, bridge & pinochle player. Playing with her dear friends, her family, or traveling to the many tournaments, winning many, all was a great time of enjoyment for her. Many jobs were in her cards ;) as well, working at Easy Washer as an assembly QC Inspector, as a Clerk & Bookkeeper at various department stores such as EW Edwards & Son, Dey Brothers & Addis's. Mary Anne also worked as a secretary for some of those firms where her expert skills as a stenographer were noticed by many. She worked as a NY Telephone Switchboard Operator that also allowed her son to see 1st hand the early inner electro workings of the telecommunications & phone world. She was employed as ticket booth & candy counter person at the Genesee Theater in Westvale which served up many of those classic '60s-70s movies for us (some from the projection booth!) & popcorn galore. Her clerking & being a sample person while at Fanny Farmer & Hickory Farms interfacing with customers was a constant joy for her as she loved interfacing with people. Mary Anne learned how to read & generate Braille in order to assist with her volunteer work with Aurora for the blind. She loved being a Welcome Wagon representative, meeting new families & introducing them to the neighborhood. A consummate learner of skills, crafts & education, imparting and sharing these with her friends, children & grandchildren was a large part of her world. She loved her Butter Pecan Ice Cream at Purity Ice Cream Ithaca, A good stiff Highball or Whiskey Sour, a Heid's Hot Dog with Sauerkraut, Brooklyn Pickle Corned Beef on Rye and more all while enjoying them with others. Mary Anne's whishes are being followed for her cremation, though her wish to be buried in her backyard, face down so everyone could kiss her blarney stone, will not be honored. At the risk of being haunted, as she threatened, just not doing. Interment Burial Services will be Private for Family only, on Saturday, January 16th at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery Marcellus, New York, where she will be placed near her granddaughter Tricilla. Due to Covid restrictions and for everyone's health & wealth fare; There will be no In Person Services; instead we will have a Remembrance & Memorial Online Event that will be Hosted/Streamed Online via "Zoom Meetings & Facebook Streaming" Services Sunday, January 17, 2021. The Invitation Links & Instructions will be provided directly to family & friends we know via email or text. Additionally, to those that may wish to participate please send your request to attend to the following email: makianka1@hotmail.com In lieu of flowers; Make some food, cookies, cakes or pies; donate those & the recipes onto someone in need, family & friends. Teach your children & grandchildren to cook, bake, swim, knit, sew & of course, proper manners. Call your parents or children & talk WITH them. Volunteer for children & charities. Make someone laugh. Play cards, UNO, PoKeNo, & Yahtzee and, yes, make time to watch Jeopardy & Wheel of Fortune with your family. Mary Anne would have liked that. Mary Anne expressed that your memorial contributions may be made to her following favorite children's & charitable organizations: or one you prefer that serves human kind, children, education & hunger issues around the world. Camp Good Days & Special Times https://campgooddays.kindful.com/ (Note: Attn: Crossroads the Clown) Make-A-Wish https://wish.org/cny St. Jude's Children's Hospital https://www.stjude.org/ Shriners Children Hospital https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/shc World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/ Food Bank/Feeding America https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/food-bank-of-central-new-york