This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Helen Kelly, 83, born on April 24, 1931 and passed away on June 13, 2014. We will remember her forever.

Helen Anne Kelly, 83, of Mill Valley, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 13th, 2014 while on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Israel. A devoted mother and grandmother, she is survived by her four children, Michael, Kathy (Michael) Giannini, Colleen (Myles) Ericson, and Sean (Julie) Kelly, and five grandchildren, Siobhan, Ryan, Kelly, Logan, and Luke, and treasured sister and brother Flossie Harrington and Bob McDonagh.

Helen was born in San Francisco, raised in Sacramento, and returned to the City where she received her Nursing Diploma from St. Mary’s College of Nursing. It was here that she met, and was later married for 50 years, to the late Neil Joseph Kelly. Helen and Neil chose Marin to raise their family. Over the course of 30 years, Helen worked as the Head Nurse at Sunny Hills of San Anselmo. 

Her legacy was her connection to family and friends.  Through entertaining, travel, phone calls, pictures and letters she stayed connected with scores of loved ones throughout the U.S., Ireland, and Australia.   Because of her faith and “love in action,” she lived her life passionately and in service, and devotion. She was the “hub” of care for all who knew her. 

As an active community member, she gave tirelessly of herself until she died. She was a charter member of the United Irish Cultural Center, Associate of The Holy Faith Sisters and an active member of St. Hilary’s Church & School since 1962. She served on multiple committees including the Senior Lunch Program, Tuesday Morning Women’s Group, Charismatic Prayer Group, Lector and Eucharistic Ministry and the coordinator and educator for Beginning Experience. She was an active Outside Volunteer at San Quentin where she served as co-facilitator of the Bible Study Group Discussion, participated in the Restorative Justice program and the Taize Community. While at San Quentin, she was a Lector in the Eucharistic Ministry, and attended weekly mass with Men in Blue.

Please join us to celebrate her wonderful life and the joy she shined on all who knew her at a memorial service on Saturday, August 2th  2014 at 11:00 at St. Hilary Catholic Church, Tiburon. The services will be followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to any of Helen’s favored charities.

Epilepsy Foundation
Sisters of Holy Faith
Jesuit Prison Ministry
Catholic Charities