Person:Kathleen Geary (1)

Obituary

GRAND ISLAND, NY - Kathleen M. O'Brien died Monday evening at the home of her niece Patricia Kostenbauder. Kathleen was living there for the past three years. She was 96. She was born Kathleen M. Geary in Buffalo, NY the daughter of the late Bernard Geary and Mary Schusler. She attended school at Stella Niagara, Lewiston, NY and graduated from East High School in 1927. Kathleen worked on the New York Central Railroad as a young girl in the 1930's, and then worked for the Army Corp of Engineers from where she received her pension. She lived in the Delaware Park district and was a member of St Marks Roman Catholic Church since the early 1960's. Kathleen was a regular walker on the Delaware Park ring road for decades. During her retirement Kathleen and her husband, John made a number of trips to Ireland. Her husband of 49 years, John S. O'Brien formerly of South Buffalo died in 1995. Kathleen was the brother and sister of the late Bernard and Bernice Geary of Buffalo, NY. Survivors include many loving nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 10:00 A.M. in St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church, Baseline Road, Grand Island. Internment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna.

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR KATHLEEN M. O'BRIEN August 4, 1908 - MAY 9, 2005

Today, Thursday, May 12, 2005 Kathleen Geary O'Brien was buried next to her husband John S. O'Brien in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna. NY. It was a private ceremony with about 15 nieces and nephews at the grave site. The coffin holding the body of Kathleen O'Brien was brought to the cemetery by the undertaker in an SUV. The coffin was carried to the grave site by 6 nephews: Ned O'Brien, Greg O'Brien, David Colin, Thomas O'Brien. Larry Geary, and Paul Zimmer. At the grave site Paul Zimmer and Kevin O'Brien presented the American and Irish flags. Coleen O'Brien Silvis coordinated the music as the pall bears placed the coffin on to the metal frame. The Irish Ballad, "I WILL TAKE YOU HOME AGAIN KATHLEEN" a favorite of Aunt Kathleen was played. Debbie O'Brien Dole and Molly O'Brien Colin handed out green carnations to all the attendees. The Irish prayer, "A Celtic Farwell" was read by Kevin J. O'Brien. Ned O'Brien led the mourners with the Our Father and Hail Mary. Patricia and Jack Kostenbauder laid flowers on top of the coffin and everyone followed in this tradition. After the placing of the flowers, Ned O'Brien sprinkled Holy Water over the casket of Kathleen O'Brien. This Holy Water was taken in 2002 from a Holy Well in Killernan Graveyard, County Clare, Ireland the ancestral burial place of the O'Brien family.

When the music ended, crystal leaded glasses were placed on top of a neighboring tombstone and fill with ice. Mike, Ned and Tom O'Brien made Uncle John's favorite whiskey/vermouth Manhattans (with cherries) while the others indulged in "Mudslides", (Aunt Kathleen's favorite drink). There was diet Pepsi for the non-drinkers and Guinness and beer for anyone else. A number of toasts were made in remembrance of Aunt Kathleen and Uncle John. There was also a toast make to Jack and Pat Kostenbauder for the loving care given to Aunt Kathleen in her last years. The mourners stayed at the grave site in conversation and drink until the grave digger lowered the coffin onto the vault and sealed the coffin. After the rigging was removed the mourners threw dirt on to the vault and said their personal good byes. The flags and coolers were retired and the mourners went over to an Irish Pub in South Buffalo for lunch and a few more drinks. REST IN PEACE

More pictures celebrating the life of Kathleen Geary O'Brien will follow. Sláinte, Kevin J. O'Brien 4762 Abbott Road Orchard Park, NY 14127-4302 (716) 649-3659

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census. (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the Unit)
   Year: 1910; Census Place: Kenmore, Erie, New York; Roll: T624_940; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 304; Image: 430.

   Birth date: abt 1908Birth place: New YorkResidence date: 1910Residence place: Kenmore, Erie, New York _APID: 7884::100331969

   http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=1910uscenindex&h=100331969&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index. (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2008.Original data - Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security)
   Number: 094-18-9967; Issue State: New York; Issue Date: Before 1951.

   Birth date: 4 Aug 1908Birth place: Death date: 9 May 2005Death place: Grand Island, Erie, New York _APID: 3693::75455351

   http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=ssdi&h=75455351&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census. (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2002.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626)
   Year: 1930; Census Place: Buffalo, Erie, New York; Roll: 1431; Page: 16A; Enumeration District: 233; Image: 966.0.

   Birth date: abt 1909Birth place: Residence date: 1930Residence place: Buffalo, Erie, New York _APID: 6224::28374374

   http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=1930usfedcen&h=28374374&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt