On February 12, 2024, Merrily Jean (Stafford) Burghdurf, 81 of Pople Road Cato died peacefully at home with her family by her side after a 2 year battle with cancer.

Merrily was born in Syracuse on September 30, 1942. She was the daughter of the late Clifford and Leontine Stafford. She grew up in Liverpool but after meeting her beloved Richard, spent the rest of her life in Cato and raised her family.  Merrily enjoyed playing cards with her friend Patty, tending her many beautiful gardens, traveling the world with TuTu, collecting Elvis memorabilia and spending time with her family.

She was a very industrious lady working her way from the bindery up to manager of The Cato Show Print, off to Victor to run their other operation and then finally Northern Graphics. It wasn't until later that she really found her true gift: taking care of others. She cared for her husband and daughter when they became ill, raised her granddaughters when their mother died and lovingly cared for her grandniece Pearl during her younger years.

She will be greatly missed by family, friends and all her knew her. She remained the backbone of the family and gave us all great knowledge in so many ways that will go on for generations. She is survived by daughters Kelly (Kimo) Cortini, Wendy (Paul) Stoneburg, six grandchildren, Jake and Damiano Cortini, Jessica and Jamie Marshall and Alana and Mya Schneider, cousin  Larry Orlick, brother-in-law Frederick Burghdorf, Niece Shayna (Steve) Burghdorf and children Aggie, Samual and Pearl Merrily Terpening.

In addition to her parents, she was pre-deceased by her husband Richard, her daughter Marnie and her grandson Nathan.

Services are at the Keysor- Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home 11362 South Street Cato, NY 13033. A celebration of life begins at 3 pm and calling hours to immediately follow through 6pm on Thursday, February 15th.

If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Central New York & of the Finger Lakes 990 7th North Street, Liverpool, NY 13088.