Monica “Kay” Bierman, 78, of Buffalo, NY, passed away peacefully, Saturday, January 10, 2026 at the Hart Comfort House in Wellsville, NY.
Kay was born on March 21, 1947 to Walter and Mollie Martz Bierman. Upon graduation from Wellsville Central School in 1966, she went on to study to be a nurses aid at St. James School of Nursing in Hornell, NY. While Kay found that being a nurses aid wasn’t exactly for her, she did go on to work at Buffalo General Hospital for over 40 years in the housekeeping and laundry departments.
Kay was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Health Church in Lackawanna, NY. Kay was a true Christian and remained a devoted Catholic throughout her life. Not only did she make sure that the local food pantry was always full, she also looked after the less fortunate in her neighborhood, giving them little jobs to earn a few dollars, and making sure the homeless took food with them.
Kay’s biggest joy was giving to her many, many nieces and nephews. She delighted in filling boxes with anything from clothes and toys based on the newest Disney movie, to cake mixes, not only as a treat, but to help them try their hand at cooking. Three generations of children have anxiously awaited seeing what the next package from “Aunt Kay” would contain. Those fond memories will certainly live on.
Kay recently told her great niece a few stories about herself.
At the age of 10, Kay became an entrepreneur of sorts. She took what little money she had to purchase a package of candy bars. Upon telling the storekeeper that she was going to sell the candy bars and make a nickel profit, the storekeeper laughed and told her “You’ll never make any money, you’ll eat your profits up.”
Kay sold that package of candy bars and purchased another. After doing this a few more times, our father took her to Foss Brother’s and bought her a wholesale size box of candy bars. Kay had already been selling candy bars at school, but with this much candy, decided to set up shop in our basement on King St. Before long people were knocking on the basement window during school hours wanting candy, which left our mother to take care of Kay’s customers.
Kay cackled and told Stella, “Mom didn’t like that, it took up too much of her time.” She also pointed at Stella and said, “Let that be a lesson to you. Never tell a child they can’t do anything, they’ll only prove you wrong. You can do anything you set your mind on.”
What a wonderful lesson and last words to leave as your legacy to a teenage child.
Kay became interested in Catholicism at a young age. Going to the public school, she wanted to attend religious classes at the Immaculate Conception School. Naturally, not being Catholic and attending the public school, you would think that would be the end of it.
Not for Kay. She figured out a way to sneak out of school in the afternoon, run up to ICS and slip into their religious classes. Living in Shongo by this time, she had to hightail it back to school to catch the bus home. No one was the wiser. If they were, no one cared or stopped her.
Kay is survived by her brother, Mark (Sarah) Bierman of Fl., three sisters, Jo Anne (Larry) Graves, Shongo, NY, Mary Elizabeth (Peter) Harer, Lewisburg, PA, and Janet (David) Talbett, Whitesville, NY. And her long time companion, John Perry of Buffalo. Along with her parents, Kay was predeceased by a brother, Richard Bierman.
A mass will be held at the Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville at a later date. Per Kay’s wishes, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 1182 Ridge Rd., Lackawanna, NY 14218 or the Hart Comfort House 141 E. State St. Wellsville, NY 14897
Our family would like to express our appreciation and gratitude to the volunteers of the Hart Comfort House for their loving care and compassion during these last few months of Kay’s life.
Buckheit Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc. 637 S, Main St, Mansfield, PA is assisting the family.
Here is a blast from Kay’s past when she worked the final shift at Betty Ford’s Lunch Stand in Wellsville
