Kelly Dianne Jennings

Kelly Dianne Jennings was surrounded by family and listening to Barbara Streisand when she passed on November 26, 2021. Thankfully she had an incredibly goofy, often sarcastic, and occasionally dark sense of humor, otherwise that wouldnt be the opening line to her obituary, but she undoubtably wouldve gotten quite the kick out of that scene. After being diagnosed with brain cancer in September 2020 and undergoing treatment for a little over a year, she was rushed to the emergency room the day before Thanksgiving and was placed in hospice the day after Thanksgiving. Although abrupt and taken far too soon, Thanksgiving will forever hold a special place in our hearts as we give thanks for such an extraordinary woman and celebrate the profound impact she had and continues to have on each of our lives.

Kelly was born to John and Lynda Brown on December 20, 1966, in Arlington, Texas, spending her early childhood in Denton, Texas. The youngest of 2, sibling rivalry prepared Kelly for the fight of her life from an early age. On more than one occasion, an argument with her older sister Kristi resulted in the sisters rolling around in the front yard and eventually ending to the applause of the construction workers across the street as Kelly drug Kristi by her hair across the yard. Being only 2 years apart, the sisters had an unwavering bond woven in loyalty and support that persisted throughout Kellys life; especially when they would unite to beg their dad not to wear his speedo while they had friends over to swim at the family pool.

The family moved to San Antonio, Texas where Kelly attended Jackson Middle School and Lee High School, playing flute in the marching band. As a teenager, Kelly personified a combination of any number of the quintessential Brat Pack movie characters as evidenced in a letter from one of her high school friends aptly describing her as "real sweet, crazy, and sometimes weird." She was unapologetic in her love for David Cassidy, her "bumblebee" Chevy Camaro, and her friends. Kellys limitless affection cultivated friendships spanning the course of over 40 years, a testament to her pure heart and genuinely profound connection with each and every one of her friends, many of whom were by her side until the end.

Kelly went on to graduate from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a bachelors degree in education. She began her expansive career in education by teaching multiple elementary school grades before becoming a special education teacher at Colby Glass Elementary School and then Northwoods Elementary School. After earning her masters degree in Library Sciences from Sam Houston State University, she became the librarian of Arlon Seay Elementary School and then finally where she would retire, Kinder Ranch Elementary School. A trip to her library was a never dull affair. Reading books to groups of kids was her own theatric art. Often dressing up as her favorite book characters (especially Dr. Seuss characters), she never shied from adding her own flair and rendition for each of the characters voices. Outside her own library, she ran several book drives and personally helped hand-deliver books to underserved communities on Saturday mornings. After 29-years as a beloved teacher and librarian, Kelly retired in August 2020. She continued to hold virtual meetings with a former student where they took turns reading and talking about books he was working on in class. Despite her diagnosis just one month after retirement and undergoing cancer treatments for over a year, the weekly meetings never stopped.

Growing up with Kelly as a mom was like growing up with the fun teacher whose class everyone wanted to be in. Every morning before school, she would wake her kids, Ryan and Erin by singing "Another One Rides the Bus" to the tune of "Another One Bites the Dust" and dancing while the kids got ready for school. Kelly spent her summers with her kids checking out books from the library, spontaneously adopting new pets, watching old horror movies, playing games at Jungle Jims, swimming at friends houses, bowling (she even bought her own shoes), sneaking snacks into movie theaters, and making copies of coupons for free kids meals at different restaurants. She was the worst disciplinarian and an even worse cook (except for her green bean casserole), but she was the most compassionate, comforting, warm, supportive, affectionate, and most incredible all-around mom that anyone could ever ask for. A perpetual room mom, church class teacher, and field trip chaperone, she never missed a single opportunity to be apart of her kids lives. As Ryan and Erin got older, she couldnt hide her excitement at the possibility of becoming "Nana" at some point soon and constantly talked about her big plans for spoiling her future grandkids. Even though her future grandkids will never get to meet their Nana in this life, her love is eternal and absolute, and their Nana will always be a part of them.

In 2017, Kelly met Darrell Jennings and they married in 2018. Kelly loved Darrells patient, kind, calming, and reassuring nature. Always by her side and always making her laugh, Kelly and Darrells marriage welcomed the very best of times, like going on spontaneous wine tasting trips, gambling in Vegas, and seeing Elton John live in concert in San Francisco. It also weathered the hardest of times like the 2020 lockdown and Kellys diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Through it all, their love prospered, and they leaned on the strength of their marriage to discover the blessings and silver linings each step of the way.

Kellys love for those around her was never limited to just the people in her life. She loved animals more than she loved Italian food, wine, Route 44 drinks from Sonic, classic rock, and true crime shows and almost as much as she hated watching football. Her dachshund, Riley, often considered a sibling to Ryan and Erin, passed away only a month prior after 10 years as her ever loyal little protector and Discovery ID channel binge watching buddy. Kelly also loved her cats Joey and Dani, both whom she determined were perfect additions to the family and brought home on a whim, regardless of the allergic reactions of others in the house. She also had several other pets throughout her life, including donkeys, a lionfish, and a cockatiel. Kelly always wished she could work at an animal shelter after she retired from teaching and followed through shortly after her retirement and while undergoing treatment. She began volunteering at the Bulverde Area Humane Society, working with abandoned kittens, and even fostering a 3-week-old orange kitten named Ryder. Of course, Kelly knew in her heart that Ryders stay was never going to be temporary, and he shortly thereafter became a permanent member of the family.

Kellys passing leaves an indescribably painful void in the hearts of so many left behind. Kelly was more than a daughter to John and Lynda, more than a sister to Kristi, more than a mother to Ryan, Erin, and Riley, and more than a wife to Darrell. Kelly was a once in a lifetime soul and an irreplaceable light that radiated humanity, compassion, and love in an ever-darkening world.

"To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world." Dr. Seuss

Kelly was our world. In lieu of flowers, please donate to whatever cause means the world to you and please consider adopting from the Bulverde Area Humane Society and Diamond Dachshund Rescue of Texas.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2021

11:00 AM

PORTER LORING MORTUARY NORTH CHAPEL

2102 N. LOOP 1604 EAST, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78232