Karen M. (Mescall) Daly

Karen Mescall Daly, 91, passed away peacefully at her
home on February 26, 2025.
Karen was born in Lackawanna, New York on February
17, 1934 to Marjorie (Downey) and Vincent Mescall.
She was the youngest of their three children, and
throughout her life cherished very close relationships
with her brother, Vincent (“Zeke”) and sister, Mary Ann
(O’Donnell).
In the summer of 1955, Karen met Richard (“Dick”) Daly
at a beach along the shores of Lake Erie, shortly after he
had completed his service in the Navy. They married on
December 28, 1957. In their 67 years together, Karen and
Dick had six children: Elaine (Don Crowley), Mark, Paul
(Julie), Jim (Cathy), Mary (Tony Bongiorno), and Steve
(Donna); and ten grandchildren, Jennifer McCabe (Brad),
Anthony Bongiorno, Sean Daly, Colin Daly (Nicole), Mia
Bongiorno, Kathryn Crowley, Kara Smith (Dhane), Matt
Daly, Lydia Bongiorno, and Nick Daly; and two greatgrandchildren
Molly McCabe and Mack Daly.
Karen attended Our Lady of Victory High School and
graduated from SUNY Cortland, later earning her
Master’s in Education from the University at Buffalo.
She devoted 40 years to the Buffalo Public School
system, teaching and counseling hundreds of children
and young adults across elementary, middle, and high
schools. A straight-shooter at heart, Karen didn’t believe
in sugarcoating, but she was passionate about building
students up. She had a remarkable ability to help even the
most challenging students discover their strengths and
find their way.
Karen was a doer who knew how to make life fun -
whether it was through games, calisthenic challenges,
campfire sing-alongs at Hanford Bay, Wednesday night
family swims at LHS, or Friday night fish-fries. The
ultimate hockey mom, she saw a need and co-founded a
local team, the Lackawanna “XLs,” ensuring everyone
had a place to play. Karen loved a good party and hosted
many, with St. Patrick’s Day always celebrated in style.
‘Never a dull moment’ was one of her favorite mantras,
and with Karen’s energy, it was a rule, not an exception.
Karen made an unforgettable impression on everyone she
met. She sang as much as she spoke - and honestly, she
did both a lot! She had a song for every moment, and no
matter the situation, she could always belt out just the
right lyrics - perfectly on point and in tune.
Karen and Dick’s top priority was raising their crew - a
challenging endeavor. Their children and their grandchildren were Karen's pride and joy.

Amid the chaos of big family life, Karen
and Dick always found time for friends and travel. They
cherished their ‘Poker Club,’ a group of five couples
who banded together in their twenties and remained
lifelong friends. Whether exploring destinations abroad
or discovering hidden gems stateside, Karen and Dick
were always ready for the next adventure. Later in life,
they made Sarasota, Florida, their winter home, but it
wasn’t just the places they visited that made their travels
unforgettable - it was the friendships they formed along
the way. From bartenders to waitstaff, and anyone else
lucky enough to share a drink and a good story with
them, their journeys were always about the people they
met.
Karen was a woman of deep faith, serving decades on
the parish council, as a member of the church choir, and
as a tour guide at Our Lady of Victory National Shrine
& Basilica. Despite challenges (including the passing of
Mark) that came her way, Karen’s default was gratitude.
‘What do I have to complain about?’ she’d say, usually
with a wry smile, before reminding everyone that, no
matter how tough things got, there was always something
to be thankful for. Her resilience wasn’t about ignoring
life’s hard moments; it was about choosing to focus on
the good, with a laugh and a shrug.
Karen was nothing short of iconic - a loving soul with a
quick wit, and blunt honesty that kept everyone on their
toes. She was as competitive as they come, and while
she’d never admit to bending the rules, there was that
one time late in a Scrabble game when the dreaded ‘Q’
without a ‘U’ made an appearance... and let’s just say, a
piece may or may not have mysteriously turned into a
blank.
Karen created memories that will last a lifetime. She was
dearly loved and will be greatly missed!
Karen will be celebrated at a Funeral Mass on Saturday,
July 19th at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory National
Shrine & Basilica. 

Flowers gratefully declined; donations
may be made in her name can be made to OLV National
Shrine & Basilica, 767 Ridge Road, Lackawanna, NY 14218.