Mary Merle Killian

Mary Merle Kilian passed away of natural causes on April 1, 2021.

Mary was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She was beautiful, kind, and special, with a true adventurous streak.

Mary was born in Fremont, Michigan on July 2, 1936, to Vada and Wilfred Ferguson. She spent her childhood in Muskegon on the shores of Lake Michigan and then moved to New York in 1952. She attended Scotia High School, graduated in 1954, and loved her time there. She made many lifelong friends and became a fixture in the Scotia-Glenville community.

The Ferguson family lived in the Glenville Hills and it was during this time that Mary developed her love for the beauty of country life. After high school, Mary attended SUNY Albany for two years. She then took a job working at the Maqua Company and then began working at IBM in Schenectady. Later in her life, she worked for Dr. Frank Strauss DDS for over twenty years.

Through a mutual enjoyment of jazz music, she found the love of her life in Len Kilian. Mary and Len were known to spend their evenings at clubs in New York City listening to jazz greats and enjoying their hip style. They were married on March 30, 1959, in Schenectady, New York. Soon after they were married, they purchased land in the Glenville Hills, which became the centerpiece of their life together.

Later that year, they built their house. Overlooking the Mohawk Valley, they began raising a family. Mary then developed her love for her various pets, gardens and flowers, and her favorite birds, the Bobolinks, which inhabited the surrounding fields. She always had a special love for ladybugs. Mary had many interests that she enjoyed throughout her life. She was an accomplished seamstress; her creations were treasured by all. She loved baking all kinds of sweet treats and was especially known for her spice cake with mocha frosting. She was an avid reader and shared that love with Len and all of those around her. What Mary loved the most was always caring for her friends and family.

The greatest fulfillment of Mary's life was being a part of her children's and grandchildren's growth into the moral, committed, and kind humans that they became. Above all, Mary was devoted to family and family traditions, which are sure to endure. Mary was deeply loved and will be missed dearly.

Survivors include: Husband of 62 years: Leonard Stanley Kilian Children: Saralyn Cohen (Lior), Christopher Kilian (Stephanie Hurley), Gina Brown (Peter). Grandchildren: Emanuel and Danielle Cohen, Rebecca, Jonathan, Avery, and Ferguson Kilian, and Christy (fiance Thomas Grimmer) and Packy Brown. Brother: Charles Ferguson (Thelma) of Zeeland, MI And many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to send a special thank you to the Pine Plains staff of Glendale Nursing Home. Their kindness, grace, and compassion over the last two years will always be appreciated.

Services will be private and held at a later date.

If you would like to honor Mary, a donation to the Glendale Home Auxillary (https://schenectadycounty.com/glendale-home) or a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
 

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