Caitlin Kennedy Kelly

Caitlin was born January 17, 1993, in Raleigh, North Carolina, to John Brendan Kelly and Kim Kennedy Kelly. Caitlin was a smart, funny, loving and often stubborn child. She was inquisitive and charming and caring. Caitlin was a wonderful person and daughter.

She attended West Lake Elementary School and then attended, and graduated from, Cary Academy. Caitlin was an active student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a school she loved.

Caitlin participated in many activities while in school. She swam for the Lochmere Swim team and the Raleigh Swim Association. She participated in all levels of the Capital Area Soccer Association. For two years she was the Mid-Atlantic Triathlon Association champion in her age group. She regularly ran 5 and 10k races for charities, often with her mother. She proudly represented Cary Academy in soccer, swimming, and her greatest love, cross-country.

Caitlin is survived by her parents, Kim Kennedy Kelly and JB Kelly, her grandfather F. Stuart Kennedy of Thomasville, NC and grandmother Mildred Kelly of Ponte Vedre Beach, FL, as well as beloved aunts and uncles, including Harold Kennedy, Marcia Hawkins, Greg Kelly, Megan Tompkins and Susan Kelly and cousins, including Adrien Doughty,Wes Hawkins, Alex Kennedy, Kelly Geissmann, Dustin Geissman, Erin Kelly, Kristen Kelly, and Tanner Tompkins.

Caitlin was the kindest of hearts, lover of all things living and nature, and was a joy to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. She made the decision to become a vegetarian at age 5, began volunteering at the SPCA at age 7, and enjoyed soccer, Carolina sports, hiking and strawberry picking for as long as anyone can remember. She liked creating things. She enjoyed origami. She loved working with stained glass. She loved to grow things. She could coax beautiful tomatoes out of a small scratch of soil. She could fix things that were broken.

When fall would come, Caitlin could be found with her friends at Kenan Stadium, cheering on the Tar Heels and being the person everyone wanted to stand next to. Her positivity and love for life radiated to everyone around her. She often talked about being able to travel and change lives after she graduated. She was a blessing and inspiration for everyone who had the chance to meet her.

Caitlin was Mom to Xu Xu, Man-Man, and Noodles (all cats), as well as Hege the rabbit and Hopper the frog. Caitlin never met an animal she didn't love, and she was a caring supporter of people as well. If anyone needed lifting up, Caitlin was there for them.

Albert Pine said, “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.” This is the spirit of Caitlin with her bright eyes, beautiful smile, and heart as big as the world.