Lydia Esther Kelly

Lydia Esther Kelly passed away peacefully with family at her side at 11:20 pm on April 15, 2023 after a short illness. She was preceded in death by her first husband Dr. David M. Kelly and later her second husband James N. Kelly.

Lydia was born Lydia Esther Rivera on March 12, 1935 in the town Florida, Puerto Rico where she grew up with 8 siblings, Ana Maria (deceased), Luz, Felix, Jose, Meri, Edith, Nilda and Migdalia all of whom still reside in Puerto Rico.

She studied and taught English in Puerto Rico then in 1962 Lydia came to the University of Iowa in a student exchange program. While there she became ill and was treated by Dr. David M. Kelly who later became her husband. The two moved to Winter Haven, Florida, before David’s job took her back to Puerto Rico. Eventually his job moved them to Bowling Green, Virginia, and finally to Tampa, where her husband, David, tragically died in a drowning accident. Lydia then moved to Omaha, Nebraska. She met and married her second Husband, James, and the two then moved to Storm Lake, Iowa in 1977. After James passed away in 1986 Lydia returned to Omaha where she lived out the rest of life until she passed.

Lydia is survived by her children David N. Kelly of Minneapolis, Diana A. Kelly-Pecha, son-in-law Ron Pecha of Omaha, her siblings and many nieces and nephews.

Although there is no formal service, a celebration of life will be at a later date.