Kathleen (McCarthy) Caliva, 85, wife of the late Francis S. Caliva, MD, passed away peacefully at home with her family around her on Wednesday, February 6. She was a lifelong resident of Syracuse and the daughter of Hugh P. McCarthy and Gertrude (Quinlan) McCarthy, late, both of Syracuse and proprietors of P.R. Quinlan, the first retail florist in Syracuse. The youngest of nine siblings, Kathleen graduated from St. Anthony's High School and Syracuse University. She worked in the Syracuse University Medical School library and the medical laboratories of the University Hospital of the Good Shepherd and St. Joseph's Hospital. Kathleen was a communicant of Holy Cross Parish, a lifetime member of the Auxiliary of St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center, as well as a founder and active advocate in the Syracuse Right to Life Association. Kathleen leaves a lifetime of fond memories to her children, Elizabeth (Paul) Dozier of Massachusetts, Francis S. (Michele) Caliva, Jr. of Syracuse, Peter A. (Eileen) Caliva of Syracuse and Anthony R. Caliva of Washington, D.C. She was predeceased by her daughter, Judith K. (Kenneth Lomax) Caliva of Massachusetts. She also leaves her grandchildren, Meredith and Stephen Dozier, Nikki and Christopher Lomax, Francis III (Isabel), Sara, Michael, Katherine, Joseph and Megan Caliva; sister, Marion T. McCarthy of Syracuse; her sister-in-law, Mathilde (Henry) Bersani of Fayetteville and multiple nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 11:30 a.m. in Holy Cross Church, Dewitt. Burial will follow in Assumption Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME, 3401 Vickery Rd. (corner of Buckley Rd.) North Syracuse on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of donations, sympathy flowers will be gratefully accepted at the funeral home.

Published in Syracuse Post Standard from February 7 to February 10, 2013