Mary A. (Sagun) Kirby Miller died Sept. 1, 2021 at her home in Cheektowaga, New York after a long battle with cancer.
She was born in Buffalo, New York on Nov. 29, 1925 to the late Stefan Sagun and the late Antionette (Orzchowska) Sagun.
She graduated from Villa Maria Academy in 1944.
In 1946, she married the late John F. Miller, Jr. In 1950, their growing family moved to Cheektowaga where they raised eight children. After the passing of her first husband, she married the late Thomas L. Kirby, Sr. in 1989.
Her spirit of generosity spread throughout her church and community. She was a founding parishioner of Infant of Prague Church and served as president of the Altar and Rosary Society and as a Eucharistic Minister. She was a member of Leonard Post Auxiliary 6251, HIAS Senior Group, Knights of Columbus Fr. Justin Council Auxiliary, Ladies of Charity, Cheektowaga Historical Association, and held office in several of those organizations.
Later in life, she volunteered for Meals on Wheels and Hospice Buffalo.
She was an avid bowler, reader, gardener, card player and traveler. She especially enjoyed bus trips, going on cruises with her family, traveling around the country to visit her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and teaching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren card games.
She was the mother of Jacqueline M. Miller, Virginia M. Prunella, Peter D. Miller, Christine A. (James) Tee, Susan M. Shellhouse, Deborah D. (Derrick Brochey) Miller, Amy L. (Christopher) Miller Gartland and John F. (Angela) Miller III of Marysville; stepmother of Thomas L. (Mary) Kirby Jr.; grandmother of Elizabeth Tee, James Tee, John (April) Shellhouse, Mary (Daniel) Gonska, Ross (Jamila) Scott-Miller, Blaise Scott-Miller, Claire Gartland, Christopher Gartland, Peter Gartland, Mark Prunella and John F. Miller IV; step-grandmother of Eileen (Robert) Evon, John Cotton and Charlotte Scott-Hayes; and great-grandmother of John, William, Matthew and Andrew Gonska and Clara and Jack Shellhouse. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; siblings and their spouses, Ann (Clyde) Frazier, Steven (Josephine) Sagun, Edward (Hilma) Sagun, Sr., Angelica Sagun, Agnes (Joseph) Domske and Rose (Frank) Pasco; sister-in-law Marian (Henry) Labiak; brother-in-law Edward Miller; and stepdaughter Laurel Cotton.
Calling hours are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8 at Pacer Funeral Home, 2275 George Urban Blvd., Depew, New York. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 9 at Infant of Prague Church, 921 Cleveland Drive, Cheektowaga, New York.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice Buffalo or FeedMore WNY. Condolences may be shared online at www.pacerfuneralhome.com.