Obituary of Mary Kaliff

Mary J. Kaliff (Shalhobe) left this world to join God's angels on Tuesday, October 14, 2014. Mary was born and raised in New York Mills (Utica, NY), the daughter of the late Abraham and Ellya (Jimial) Shalhobe. On June 29, 1947 Mary married Edward M. Kaliff a devoted union of 67 years. In 1951 Ed became an engineer for IBM Company and they made their home in Poughkeepsie, New York. Mary and her beloved husband were inseparable partners. They enjoyed traveling to Florida, California, and Canada and made a special trip to their ancestor's homeland of Lebanon in 1972 which they thoroughly enjoyed and spoke of with much fondness. They loved Classical Music, and always enjoyed learning something new. Mary was educated in New York Mills and was Salutatorian of her class. Mary was trained as an Interior Designer working for both Wallace Company and Luckey Platt & Company department stores in Poughkeepsie. Mary also worked as a teacher's assistant for the Wappinger's Falls School District where she found a wonderful outlet for her love of children. Mary and Ed made numerous trips to Utica, NY to visit Mary's mother and father and uncle and her beloved sister and brother-in-law Ardell (Shalhobe) and Toufie Bolos who both pre-deceased her. Many trips were also made to Ed's relatives in Beacon who were devoted to Mary and her kind and generous personality. On the holidays Mary would make her famous homemade pies and family members would argue over which pie was the best. After big meals on the holidays Mary would grab whoever would go with her and take them on long vigorous walks to work off the effects of overeating. She also enjoyed walking on a regular basis with her neighborhood walking group and enjoyed mountain hiking with her husband and friends, even in winter time. Mary was a woman of many talents, model wife, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, Aunt, Great Aunt and second mother. Mary sewed all the window treatments in her home as well as bedspreads, table cloths and slip covers. During the summer months Mary and Ed would host several of her nieces from Utica teaching them in a gentle and fun way how to practice good manners and acquire an appreciation of classical music. She was a beautiful and unforgettable person who will be missed by her beloved husband, many nieces, nephews and friends. Calling hours will be Monday, October 20th at Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, Inc., 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A service will be held in the funeral home following the calling hours.