Kathleen Callisto

Kathleen Anne (Siembida) Callisto passed away peacefully on May 15, 2017 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital after a valiant battle with ovarian cancer. Kathleen was born on July 12, 1945 in Buffalo, New York, the daughter of Chester and Anne (Kuper) Siembida. She attended St. Mary's High School in Lancaster, New York, where she was active in theater in musicals. Continuing her education, Kathleen attended historic Sisters' Hospital School of Nursing of Buffalo, New York, and further at St. Elisabeth's College of Nursing and Mohawk Valley Community College, both of Utica, New York. On January 15, 1965 Kathleen wed Vincent Donato Callisto, a blessed union of 52 years. Her nursing and selflessness brought comfort to many across Massachusetts, New York, especially the town of New Hartford, and Sarasota, Florida, where she and her husband decided to retired. Kathleen loved philosophical debates, rose gardening, traveling, a well written novel, playing cards, elephants, yarn crafts and needlepoint, archaeology, and college and professional football. She recently became a literacy volunteer of Sarasota County. She instilled these characteristics of honor, education, and community service in her children who followed in her footsteps. Karen studied Nursing, Christina studied Classical and Anthropological Archaeology, and Michael studied History with an emphasis on Teaching. Surviving her are her beloved husband Vincent, her four children, Vinny T of Syracuse, NY, Karen Scanio of New Hartford, NY, Christina Callisto Colson of Las Vegas, NV, and Michael of Sarasota, FL, her four grandchildren, Alexandra, Nicholas, Michael, and Sidney, and her brothers Daniel and Carl Siembida of Buffalo, NY. Kathleen was proceeded by her brothers Paul and George Siembida. A Celebration of Life will be planned for her family and friends. Plaques in Kathleen's honor can be viewed at Venice Memorial Gardens, the Smithsonian Institute's National Atomic Testing Museum, University at Buffalo, and New Hartford High School, among others. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations made to ovarian cancer research and elephant habitat conservation.