Kelly Donahue

My name is Elizabeth Andersen. I am Kelly’s niece. My Aunt sometimes referred to me as “KJ”, Kelly Junior.

My Aunt was a wonderful person. In fact, she still is. As everybody here knows, she could cheer anybody up when they were sad, and make them feel better even when they were happy. She was honest, fair, interesting, but most of all kind. She was a great aunt, and I’ve heard and noticed, she was also a great friend, sister-in-law, mom, cousin, and much more! It was amazing how well she could write! She was so creative! It was also amazing how she could make friends wherever she went. She could be friendly to ANYBODY. She was also really good at doing my hair. Her daughter, Carlie, my cousin, was lucky because she got that talent from her mom. Nobody has ever done my hair better than those two. It was terrible what happened to her, but we all have to remember that God has a plan, and to choose faith over fear, just like my Aunt Kelly did. Whenever you need some extra strength, you can think about her, and how amazingly strong she was. To know her makes you feel special because she puts you before herself. She was definitely an amazing person and always will be.

Aunt Kelly, I love you!

Written by Elizabeth Andersen, age 9. Kelly’s Funeral: June 7, 2013

From: Carlie

I can shed tears that she is gone, or I can smile because she has lived. I can close my eyes and pray that she will come back, or I can open my eyes and see all that she’s left. My heart can be empty because I can’t see her, or I can be full of the love that we shared. I can turn my back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or I can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. I can remember her and only that she’s gone, or I can cherish her memory and let it live on. I can cry and close my mind, be empty and turn my back. Or I can do what she would want, smile, open my eyes, love and go on. So now I ask all of you here today, to walk with me and help me as I make my choice to love and go on.

Many of you got to know “sick Kelly”. We all came to admire her strength and determination in her fight against the nasty monster we know as cancer. But today, I would like to introduce, or help you remember “healthy Kelly.” The Kelly that was a loving friend, sister, daughter, and first and foremost, an amazing mother. She absolutely loved the title and responsibilities of being mommy, and she did everything without a single complaint. And trust me, jack and I put her through a lot! Being a mother has many different occupations involved… taxi driver, teacher, doctor, therapist, and in her case, a best friend. The bond that my mom and I shared and still share now is a bond that will never be forgotten or duplicated. She was my rock, my secret holder, my laugh when I wanted to cry, my dance partner, my shopping buddy, and the lady with all the answers. I am who I am, because of that woman.

But being a mom isn’t where it stopped. Its obvious being with all of you that she touched so many lives during her time here. My mom had an infectious laugh with a beautiful smile that could light even the darkest room. I thank God everyday that I had the opportunity to see that smile and hear that laugh as many times as I did. She had a goal in life to make others happy, even if it meant sacrificing her own happiness. I truly admire her selflessness and her ability to make everyone feel welcome. My aunt was actually telling me the other day about how my mom would talk to the nurses and other patients over the course of her long journey, making every individual feel important and loved. I truly believe this is the reason my mom made it as far as she did, because her determination and love of life made it almost impossible to not help.

And boy, did my mom know how to lighten the mood. With such a sharp wit, she could make any situation less awkward or more exciting. In fact, just the other day, she sat our family down to have the dreaded talk where she said everything she ever wanted us to know. Of course tears were shed uncontrollably as the words she spoke came straight from her heart. But right in the middle of what was supposed to be a heartfelt moment, she turned to me and started describing the dress she wanted to wear for her viewing and how she wanted her makeup to look. Helping everyone around her look at the bright side was a quality that she possessed, and one she was very proud of. She hated pity or asking for help. She only wanted more members of team Kelly. No negativity, no doubtful thoughts, and certainly no bad news.

Yes, right off this sounds like a negative situation, but I have learned from her that looking at the positive aspects of every situation makes even the worst things seem not as bad. Out of this, my family has only grown stronger in our relationships with each other. I have also come away with the knowledge of not taking life for granted. I made sure to surround myself with positive friends, continue doing the things I love, and never lose hope.

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” Words brought to us from Alexander Graham Bell. This look on life couldn’t be more accurate to the way my mother lived. In order to take full advantage of our future opportunities, we have to learn to also let go of our past. Hold memories, remember what has made you who you are today, but know that you have the power to make it a positive life no matter what your past experiences included. It’s never too late for a fresh start. So if you gather anything from what I have said today, I hope it’s that my mom was an amazing person, and she meant the world to me. But she is where she needs to be and she is watching down on us with that same beautiful smile that attracted us to her from the beginning. Lemony snicket said: “It is a curious thing, the death of a loved one. We all know that our time in this world is limited, and that eventually all of us will end up underneath some sheet, never to wake up. And yet it is always a surprise when it happens to someone we know. It is like walking up the stairs to your bedroom in the dark, and thinking there is one more stair than there is. Your foot falls down, through the air, and there is a sickly moment of dark surprise as you try and readjust the way you thought of things.” What an honest and true statement. It is now our responsibility to live for her. Live the way she did…A caring, thoughtful, selfless, and loving lifestyle. As my family and I have been asking ourselves these past few days “what would Kelly do?”

Thank you all for coming today and showing your support and love for my mom and my family. A huge thank you goes to all the nurses and doctors that made this journey with my mom from day 1. And a very special thank you goes to our family and friends that made every laugh and smile she experienced, possible. Team Kelly is a HUGE team with endless support. And now each and every one of you has been given a guardian angel. She will love you and look out for you as you continue your journey through life. Every time you see a bumblebee or a butterfly, think of my mom and know that she is with you. My mom has always had impeccable hearing, even though it didn’t always work in my favor, know that she is always listening and you can talk to her whenever. Do not feel sorry for me. I had the greatest mom in the world. Do not dwell on the life that is lost, focus more on the life that was lived. I love all of you…and I love you mommy… to infinity and beyond.

Ms. Kelly C. Donahue of Kennesaw passed away June 3, 2013.She was employed as an Administrative Assistant with The Paradies Shops and was and avid tennis player.

She is survived by her children, Jack Donahue and Carlie Donahue; mother Jean Churchill; brother, Richard Rodgers; sister Debbie Andersen and her husband Todd Andersen;niece, Elizabeth Andersen and nephew Thomas Andersen.

Funeral services will be held Friday June 7 at 10 Am at Northstar Church with Rev.Aaron Johnson officiating. Private interment will be at a later time.

The family will receive friends between the hours of 6 until 8 PM Thursday at the funeral home.

Those who desire may make contributions to the International Early Lung cancer Action Program at www.wellstar.org/foundation

Family request, please leave comments at online register book.

Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home