Obituary of Mary M. Borzillire

Mary M. “Greta” Borzillire (July 21st, 1956 - January, 26th, 2026)

 

Mary M. Borzillire, who went by Greta to most, passed away at the age of 69 in her sleep at her home in Silver Creek, NY, on January 26th, 2026 after years of health problems related to COPD. She was a special education and early intervention teacher servicing Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Southern Erie Counties as an independent contractor for many years until she retired to focus on giving care to her husband, Charles Borzillire, after he suffered a massive stroke in September 2004. 

 

She was born in Niagara Falls, NY, on July 21st, 1956 to John and Bina Schreiber, who preceded her in death. She and her sister, Sara of Albany, NY, spent their childhoods attending various catholic schools in Niagara Falls and Troy, NY. Greta met her lifelong best friend Amy Kosty (nee, Salons) in 8th grade while attending St. Patrick’s School in Troy, NY. She graduated from Catholic Central High School in Troy, NY in 1974, then went on to attend D’Youville College in Buffalo, NY, where she graduated in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She received her Master’s of Education in Elementary Education and Learning from Fredonia State in 1993. She was working toward a doctorate at the University of Buffalo when her husband suffered a massive stroke, but she walked away from the program to become his caregiver. 

 

Greta and Charlie met on a blind date during a mixer at D’Youville College, while Greta was a student there and they got married in Niagara Falls on August 13th, 1977. They welcomed their son, Sean, in 1980, and their daughter, Devon, in 1985. Their adult children lived with and acted as caregivers to both their parents for the last several years. Her husband, Charles, was away receiving inpatient physical rehabilitation at the time of her death. 

 

She was a caring and passionate person. She took the time to get to know each and every student she had through the years working at BOCES LoGuidice Center in Fredonia, NY, the Montessori School in Silver Creek, NY, and as a Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) contracted out by multiple agencies across Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Erie Counties. She was a firm believer that everyone has the right to receive an education and that all students can be taught if the teacher takes the time to figure out how each of their students learn and tailor their teaching to their individual students. She was able to make this method work in a classroom setting as well as in one-on-one instruction. 

 

Greta was also an avid reader and had a great love for music. After retiring as a teacher, she would read at least a book a week. Although she was not a musician herself, she did marry a professional saxophonist and flutist. She would always say something to the effect of, “I may not be a musician, but I am a great listener of music.” She and her children would often attend her husband’s gigs and her and her husband would often go out to listen to live music wherever they could find it, sometimes with a group of friends.  

 

Greta is survived, by her husband, Charles Borzillire, 76, and two children, Devon, 40, and Sean, 46, all of Silver Creek, NY. She is also survived by her sister, Sara Blake, 73, and her husband, Jim, of Albany, NY; her niece, Allison Hagner, 41, and her husband, Chad, of Clifton Park, NY; and her nephew Brendan Blake, 38, and his wife, Natalie, of Molalla, OR.  

 

A celebration of life will be held at Hole-Parker Funeral Chapel,160 Central Ave Silver Creek, NY at a later date, to be announced by the family. Donations to the Special Olympics or Autism Speaks would be greatly appreciated.  

Please share online condolences at www.holeparkerfc.com.

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