Mary Louise Whitehead

Mary was born on March 22, 1937, in Buffalo, N.Y. She was the daughter of George and Emaline (Schlatterer) Nosky. A resident of Buffalo she graduated from East High School in 1956. She worked for traveler’s insurance company until she married her husband on June 20, 1959 moving to Dunkirk N.Y. A homemaker until her children were grown; she worked at a day care taking caring of others children for several years. Mary loved to bake especially pies for special occasions and gardening. She dedicated her time to being a loving wife, mother and grandmother; spending much of her time later as her grandchildren grew up watching them and helping them to grow and learn. She taught them how to make a pie from scratch, her famous Christmas sugar cookies and passed down to them many family recipes, stories and memories.

A lover of birds she always had her bird feeder full and her bird book handy to look up which bird had visited. All who knew her knew she loved her birds. But above all they knew she loved her owls as shown by the many she proudly displayed in her home. And as she would say “You know why I have so many owls? It’s because I give a hoot!” and she truly did. A lifetime and dedicated member of the Order of the Eastern Star of Sylvan Chapter #258 Mary held many office positions including Matron. Mary spread love and joy to all who knew her and was loved dearly by many.

Mary is survived by her two daughters, Deborah Whitehead (Louis Villalobos) of Maryland and Barbara (Thomas) Thompson of Dunkirk, her three grandchildren Kenna Thompson of Dunkirk, Shanna Thompson of Kentucky and Ryan Villalobos of Virginia and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband John W. Whitehead Jr., parents George and Emaline, Step Mother Catherine No-sky, infant sister Joanne Therese, her sister in law Carole (Whitehead) Hudson and brother in law Charles “Chuck” Hudson.

Friends may call on Thursday, February 17, from 2-4p.m. and 7-9p.m. at McGraw Kowal Funeral Home, where an Eastern Star service will be held at 7p.m.

Funeral service will be held Friday, February 18, at 11 a.m., from St. John’s United Church of Christ, 733 Central Ave. Dunkirk, N.Y. (entrance on Eagle). Pastor Zoe Milliman will officiate. Followed by burial at Willowbrook Park Cemetery in Dunkirk. Family and friends are welcome.

The family asks that memorial donations be made to St. John’s UCC in Mary’s memory.