Obituary for Leah Beth An Ni McIrwin
Leah Beth An Ni McIrwin, 23, was born in Anhui Province, China, and grew up in Syracuse and Fayetteville. She was a loving daughter, granddaughter and niece. Family and friends will remember her many kindnesses.
Much of Leah‘s early joy came from listening to all types of music and playing it, too, starting with piano. While attending Fayetteville-Manlius HS, she played cello in its Symphony Orchestra and in the area-wide Syracuse Youth Orchestra. Her musical studies continued in college, on piano and guitar.
She found her true calling in social work. She graduated from the Falk College of Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and went on to earn her Master of Social Work degree from the University at Buffalo. She had recently begun working at Helio Health in Syracuse, where she was a case manager. During her professional training, she served as a social work intern at Lincoln Middle School in Syracuse and at UBMD Neurology in Buffalo.
Leah was seldom idle. She worked at TJ Maxx in Fayetteville during high school and college. When she was a student in Buffalo, she was a part-time care manager at Kids Peace, a provider of mental and behavioral health services.
She traveled widely with family, for extended periods, in Australia, the Bahamas, China and Europe. She was looking forward to visiting the remaining continents.
With her loyal and supportive nature, she made - and kept - many friends from her pre-school days onwards. She was a tender and caring companion to the family dogs, especially her Simba, with whom she grew up.
Leah is survived by her parents Robert Irwin and Mary McGuire, her grandmother Cecilia Mulvey, and her aunts Ann Irwin, Jane Mulvey and Donna White. She was predeceased by her beloved grandfather, Charles Mulvey.
A private memorial service will be held for family and friends.
A memorial scholarship fund for social work students at Falk College will be established in her honor.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Leah McIrwin can be sent to Falk College, 640 Skytop Road, 2nd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13244, or to the Helio Health Foundation, https://www.helio.health/fundraising/foundation.
Much of Leah‘s early joy came from listening to all types of music and playing it, too, starting with piano. While attending Fayetteville-Manlius HS, she played cello in its Symphony Orchestra and in the area-wide Syracuse Youth Orchestra. Her musical studies continued in college, on piano and guitar.
She found her true calling in social work. She graduated from the Falk College of Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and went on to earn her Master of Social Work degree from the University at Buffalo. She had recently begun working at Helio Health in Syracuse, where she was a case manager. During her professional training, she served as a social work intern at Lincoln Middle School in Syracuse and at UBMD Neurology in Buffalo.
Leah was seldom idle. She worked at TJ Maxx in Fayetteville during high school and college. When she was a student in Buffalo, she was a part-time care manager at Kids Peace, a provider of mental and behavioral health services.
She traveled widely with family, for extended periods, in Australia, the Bahamas, China and Europe. She was looking forward to visiting the remaining continents.
With her loyal and supportive nature, she made - and kept - many friends from her pre-school days onwards. She was a tender and caring companion to the family dogs, especially her Simba, with whom she grew up.
Leah is survived by her parents Robert Irwin and Mary McGuire, her grandmother Cecilia Mulvey, and her aunts Ann Irwin, Jane Mulvey and Donna White. She was predeceased by her beloved grandfather, Charles Mulvey.
A private memorial service will be held for family and friends.
A memorial scholarship fund for social work students at Falk College will be established in her honor.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Leah McIrwin can be sent to Falk College, 640 Skytop Road, 2nd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13244, or to the Helio Health Foundation, https://www.helio.health/fundraising/foundation.