Obituary of Shirley Kivari

Shirley Lemax Kivari, 89, died peacefully on August 17, 2023 at The Pines in Machias, NY. She was born in Syracuse on December 17, 1933 to George and Pauline (Glavin) Lemax and grew up on Cherry Road in Westvale. She attended Cherry Road Elementary and Solvay High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Syracuse University in 1955. Shirley spent four wonderful years teaching elementary school. She married Edward Kivari, Sr. in 1957 and had six children.

Shirley was a lifelong member of St. Charles - St. Ann’s Parish, where she was active as a Eucharistic minister and started a support group for separated and divorced Catholics. Later in life, Shirley worked at KeyBank and Geddes Federal. She loved living in Westvale, playing bridge, and enjoying lunches with dear friends. She most valued her faith and her family, including her many cousins. Shirley cherished her friends and she had many from growing up on Cherry Road, participating in Theta Phi Alpha sorority, living on Parsons Drive, and her years at Bishop Ludden Apartments.

Shirley is predeceased by her parents, her brothers, Bob and Bill, and her infant son Paul.

She is survived by her five children, Edward Jr. (Sophia) Wilbraham, MA, Kristine (Craig Zuckerman), Olean, NY, Janet (John O’Rourke) Ellicottville, NY, John (Jacqueline) East Aurora, NY,  and James (Anne) Olean NY;  Eleven grandchildren, Molly, Shannon, and Jack O’Rourke, Alexandra and Connor Kivari, Sydney Zuckerman, George and Daniel Kivari, and Christian, Katriana, and Nicholas Kivari, as well as three great-grandsons Aidan, Matti, and John Patrick. 

The family thanks the staff at Field of Dreams in Allegany, NY and is deeply grateful for the loving care and support Shirley received from The Pines Machias.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11:00am Thursday, August 24, 2023, at St. Charles Church, 501 S. Orchard Rd., Syracuse, NY 13219.
If desired donations may be made to St. Charles - St. Ann's Parish, 4461 Onondaga Blvd, Syracuse, NY 13219 or (stcharles-stanns.com)