Mary Kanieski
Mary Kanieski passed into the care of God on May 2, 2021. She was the daughter of the late Walter and Mildred Kanieski. Mary cherished her kitties, especially Sasha and Chloe, and her beloved dog, Sam. Her passions were dancing, theatre, film, swimming, hiking, biking and writing. She began dancing at the age of three. After studying dance in college, she performed professionally in the musical production, Stompin’ at the State, which helped to save and restore the Playhouse Square Theatres in Cleveland, Ohio, and in Stompin’ at La Ronde at the Fontainebleau Hilton in Miami Beach, Florida. She then pursued her love of working behind the scenes in theatre and film in Boston, MA.
Mary had a varied career. She also was a computer analyst, taught computer science at a vocational school, traveled New England as a dance photographer, reveled in being a Boston Park Ranger and, for a time, worked in television. When she worked as a theatre manager and film projectionist at various movie theatres in Boston and in the media department at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, she was able to help save a beautiful vintage big screen theatre. Some of her favorite adventures were crewing on a scuba diving sailboat in the Bahamas, hiking in the mountains near Banff, Alberta, Canada, climbing Uluru / Ayers Rock in Australia, exploring the streets of Paris, mopeding in the French countryside near Tours, enjoying Broadway Theatre in New York City, rock climbing in Seneca, West Virginia, and horseback riding on the beaches of Fiji.
Mary spent the last years of her life working at United Way, where she loved helping people find resources to better their lives. She was also involved in helping various animal shelters and she did volunteer work for programs that offered horseback riding for people with disabilities. Another passion was promoting environmental awareness. Mary spent many years researching environmental illnesses and trying to spread awareness of the dangers of toxic chemicals in everyday products. She felt that it was everyone’s responsibility to take care of this planet that we all have the privilege of sharing. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Middleburg Heights Animal Kennel or any animal shelter that promises to try to find homes for every animal in their care.
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I have been really sad since hearing of Mary’s passing. She was a kind a loving person and a great dancer. I danced next to her for many months in the Stompin at LaRonde production in Miami. Such a sweet, beautiful smile and so much fun to be around. You will be missed dear Mary.
I cannot tell you how heartbroken I am to hear that Mary is gone. We met in Florida during Stompin at La Ronde and kept in touch throughout the years.
She is by all definitions, an angel and gentle soul who will be so very sorely missed by all who loved her.
I always enjoyed talking to Mary. I was truly heart broken when I heard she passed. I will miss you!
I did not know Mary. But I knew some of her friends. She must have been an extraordinary person. You were all blessed to have known her. I pray for her and all of her family and friends that are grieving your great loss. Bless you Mary.
Rest in peace, my friend. I will miss our conversations. I was surprised by a note in our mail, but thankful you thought of us and reached. Hydrangeas just for you! Iknow you’ll be smiling down on us.
God bless you and keep you untill we meet again.
Mary was my neighbor. She was always so nice. A very sweet soul!
She loved her cat! I’m so sorry for her family! She will be missed!
As her nephew, I am sad I did not get to see her more and did not know her very well. However, as she was my aunt, I am saddened by the fact that she is no longer with the animals that she loves. I know from my time seeing her, she loved her cats. Hopefully she is at peace now, and I know she is in Heaven and I know she has found the ultimate peace in eternity with the Lord. Thank you very much Lord for blessing us with her presence in the time that we were able to have with her.
Mary was a sweet cousin of mine! We were close. And talked often! She was my best friend also! I will truly miss her and our talks !! RIP. You will always remain in my heart. Love you always !
Mary was my neighbor in Middleburgh Hts area I lived at 7440 lanier I move to Nort Carolina Mary and I stayed in contact in fact she was going to visit me here.i will miss you and you were the sweetest lady we had alot of laugh and best of freinds you send me a card that I will keep and I cried could not believe your gone.God Bless my friend