Mary C. Kabasakalian

Mary Catherine Kabasakalian (nee Blarr) passed away peacefully under the care of Niagara Hospice on Thursday, October 24, 2013, at Northgate Manor. Mary was elected Mayor for the City of North Tonawanda from 2000 until 2002. Her platform was ?We the People?. She was one of the founders and Treasurer of the North Tonawanda City Employees Credit Union. Mary was a driving force for the procurement of the Erie County Rescue Helicopter after her son, David, drowned in the Niagara River in 1987. Because of her actions, many people have been rescued or found. Her jovial personality and loving heart shined through with everyone she met. Mary was always available for a random act of kindness and never expected anything in return. Daughter of the late Roy Joseph Blarr and Barbara (nee Beiter) Blarr. Mary was the wife of the late Alfred ?Kab? Kabasakalian and mother of the late David Alesse. Sister of the late Carol (Joseph) Woodruff and Elizabeth Blarr.
Loving mother of Donald (Sue) Alesse, Carol (William) Griffith and Thomas (Lisa) Kabasakalian. Proud grandmother of Maria (Lisa) Alesse, Katherine (Patrick) Abbott and Benjamin (Nicole) Alesse, Dave and Marika Griffith, Lucas and Dylan Kabasakalian. Great-grandmother of Benjamin and Elizabeth. Dear sister of Barbara (the late Marian) Ozimek, Ada (the late Karl) Koestler, Joseph (Carmelle) Blarr and Donald (Shirley) Blarr. Also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Friends received by the family on Saturday 6-9 PM and Sunday 2-4 and 6-8 PM at the Brunner Funeral Home, 156 Robinson St., North Tonawanda (692-3841). A memorial Mass will be held at a later date to be announced. The family requests that memorials be made to a local Alzheimer's Foundation or Niagara Hospice, Inc.