Patricia L. Kelly

Patti was born on July 20, 1931 in Peoria to Howard W. and Mary Marie (Gibson) Higham. She married James Paul Kelly in 1951 and he preceded her in death in 2009. Also preceding her in death are one daughter, Judith Kelly; her parents; and her two sisters, Elizabeth and Ruthe.

Surviving are her daughter, Karen L. (Charlie) Silver of Hudson, WI; her son, James P. (Becky) Kelly II of Dunlap, IL; three grandsons, Anthony Peoples, Joseph Silver and Patrick Kelly; two step-grandchildren, Megan Reynolds and Tyler (Emily) Miller; two great-granddaughters, Jordan Peoples and Adelynn Miller; and her two brothers, William and Robert Higham.

Patti was a 1949 graduate of Woodruff High School. She was a hairdresser and managed Midwest Beauty Supply until she retired in 1994. She was a life-long member of St. Philomena Catholic Church, the St. Philomena Women’s Group, Cursillo Peoria, the Elks Lodge #20 Emblem Club and the Peoria Hairdresser’s Association. She enjoyed knitting, crafting and horseback riding.

After her husband’s death, Patti moved to Independence Village where she acquired a second family that she loved dearly. She was quite a character and was always the life of the party with her new friends!

Cremation rites will be accorded and a memorial Mass will be held at 10am on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at St. Philomena Catholic Church in Peoria with visitation a half hour prior to Mass. Father Terry Cassidy will be officiating. A memorial visitation will be held on Monday, February 9, 2015 from 5pm to 7pm at the Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria. Inurnment will be at Resurrection Mausoleum in Peoria. Memorials may be made to Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria. Online condolences may be made through www.woolsey-wilton.com