Mary E. LaGuardia's Obituary
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Mary Esther LaGuardia, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend whose love and strength shaped generations of her family.
Born on July 9, 1931, Mary Esther McQuaid grew up in a hardworking Irish family and faced challenges early in life that helped shape the strong, resilient woman she would become. Her life changed forever when she met the love of her life, Anthony LaGuardia, the Italian boy from the neighborhood who would become her husband, best friend, and greatest blessing. Together they built a life filled with love, laughter, and family.
Mary Esther and Anthony raised three daughters: Theresa Romanini (preceded in death), husband Tim Romanini; Mary Kay LaGuardia, husband Gary Jenkins; Anne Kenzig, husband Ron Kenzig and “adopted” daughter Arlette. She was a proud grandmother to Tony Filipic, Kristin Sarkisian, Kelly Scheffer, (husband Chris Scheffer), and Ron Kenzig, (wife Kelly Kenzig), and a loving great-grandmother to Rachael, Kaycey, and Emily Sarkisian, and Freya and Quinn Kenzig.
Though Irish by birth, Mary became legendary for her Italian cooking. Family gatherings were often centered around the kitchen, where food was her love language and no one ever left hungry. She was a talented crocheter, loved a good conversation, and could spend hours chatting about life, family, and the stories that connected them all.
Mary was small in stature but mighty in spirit—a true spitfire with a fierce love for the people she cared about. She loved deeply, worried often, and never missed an opportunity to remind her family how much they meant to her. Her strength carried her through difficult times, but her greatest joy was always her family.
While we will miss her dearly, there is comfort in knowing that she is finally reunited with her beloved Anthony and her daughter Theresa. After a lifetime of loving them and missing them, they are together again.
Mary’s legacy lives on in every family meal, every shared story, every crocheted gift, and every act of love passed down through the generations. She taught us that family is everything, and her love will remain in our hearts forever.
Forever loved, forever missed, and forever part of us.
A visitation will be held on Monday June 22, 2026 from 4:00 PM-8 :00 PM at Sunset Chapel, 6245 Columbia Rd, North Olmsted, OH 44070. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday June 23, 2026 at 10:00 AM at St. Clarence Catholic Church, 30106 Lorain Rd, North Olmsted, OH 44070
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