Marion Rose Kirby

Albany-Marion Rose Oliver, 85, of Albany passed peacefully from this life on March 5th after enduring the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease for many years. She was surrounded by family in her final hours. Marion was born in Albany on August 5th, 1928, attended Albany PS 20, Cathedral Academy and Vincentian Institute. She received her teaching degree at SUNY Albany and taught at Montgomery High School and Saint Ann’s Institute. In 1952, she married John Kirby, long-time truck salesman for Orange Motors and raised five children as a devoted stay-at-home mom at the family home on Manning Boulevard where she and husband John lived for more than 50 years. In addition to being a wonderful mother, Marion was a parishioner and choir member at Blessed Sacrament Church, a girl scout leader, a singer in the former “500 Voice Choir”, tour guide at Albany’s Historic Cherry Hill House and worked in her later years for the New York Lottery and the New York State Department of Education. She was a devoted daughter, taking care of her mother, Johanna Oliver, who was a resident of Eden Park Nursing Home for more than 26 years. Marion was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, John Francis Kirby and was the daughter of Johanna (Corbet) Oliver and Raymond S. Oliver. She is the mother of John Kirby (Cynthia Canfield), Theresa Hodges, Barbara (James Fealey) Kirby, Mary Beth (Richard) Stabinski and Robert (Lisa) Kirby. She was also preceded in death by twin infant sons who died shortly after birth in 1957. Marion also leaves behind her cherished grandchildren, Michael and Danielle Stabinski, Lauren and Megan Fealey, Thomas Hodges, and Jaclyn and Stephen Kirby. Marion is also survived by sister Joan (Gordon) Walsh, and brothers Charles Oliver and John Oliver. She was preceded in death by siblings Raymond Oliver, James Oliver, and Leanora Oliver, who died as a small child. She is survived by many nieces and nephews. There are public and acknowledged saints, and there are many more saints who are only seen and acknowledged by few. Our mom is one of those many otherwise-unknown saints of whom God must be very proud. She is a perfect example of a job – and life – well done. Funeral services Monday, March 10, 2014 at 8:15 am from McVeigh Funeral Home, 208 North Allen Street, Albany thence to Blessed Sacrament Church, Albany at 9:00 am where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Relatives and friends are invited and may call Sunday, March 9, 2014 4:00 to 7:00 pm in the funeral home. Interment St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands. To leave a message for the family, obtain directions or view other helpful services, please visit www.McveighFuneralHome.com The family wants to sincerely thank the staffs of the Loudonville Home for Adults and Teresian House for their extraordinary and loving care of Marion during her many years as an Alzheimer’s patient. We will always be grateful. Friends and family members are asked to consider memorial donations to the Teresian House Foundation, Blessed Sacrament Church, and the Gerald Levine Memory Care Unit at Loudonville Home for Adults or the Alzheimer’s Association.

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Marion Rose Kirby

August 5, 1928 - March 5, 2014