Cristina Tamara Kelly-Khalaf

Cristina was born to James and Elisabetta Kelly on March 1, 1972, at Georgetown University Hospital. James and Elisabetta had three children together, Cristina, Caterina, and Phillip. James passed away when Cristina was 8 years old. Five years later, Elisabetta remarried and had her fourth child, Anna-Alexandra. All four children were raised speaking Italian, a language which Cristina passed on to her own children.

She attended Marymount Junior School from kindergarten through eighth grade. She was enrolled at Bishop O’Connell for two years, then continuing at Immaculata College High School, where she graduated in 1992. During her high school years, she was very active in the drama department. Never afraid to stand out, she played tuba in the marching band her sophomore year. Cristina went to Marymount University and graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in graphic design and a minor in business.

That same fall, she relocated to New York City where her beloved aunt and uncle, Rita & Joe Cohen lived, to begin her career in media. Her first job was with Saturday Night Live through the Page Program at NBC Studios. She then moved on to the corporate office at NBC, before returning to Washington, DC in late 1999 to work as an editorial producer at CNN. During her nine years at CNN, Cristina received the Alfred I. duPont - Columbia Award for editorial contributions to CNN coverage of the Asian Tsunami, as well as the George Foster Peabody Award, once in 2006 for her contributions to CNN coverage of Hurricane Katrina, and again in 2007 for her contributions to CNN Presents documentary, God’s Warriors. She co-wrote a book with her mother on raising babies, “Happy Mommy, Happy Baby”, and guest lectured on news production at Georgetown University. Upon leaving CNN, she and a former colleague founded Human Unlimited Media (HUM) News. She started a furniture painting company, Isabella’s World, as well as co-founded a children’s consignment boutique with a close friend, GeorgieAnnaBella. In 2015, Cristina became a producer at EWTN on the weekly news show, The World Over Live with Raymond Arroyo, where she worked until her passing. Her colleagues prepared the following memorial video: https://youtu.be/QpaHcu0ebp4?si=VJwqqpfMAikfA14c

In this memorial biography, we would like to share thoughts on Cristina as an amazing daughter, a wonderful sister and aunt, a loving wife, and an exceptional mother. Always loyal, Cristina was known for her class and elegance. Her confidence shone through with everything she did and in the very way she carried herself.

Cristina’s mother, Elisabetta, reflects on her relationship with her daughter: “Cristina, Cristina, my soul, my right arm – my firstborn meant so much to me, this beautiful baby with big blue eyes. We spoke every single day of her life, no matter where I was or where she was. We discussed and talked about everything: history, religion, children, food... organizing parties or dinners, planning guest lists and menus together. We could spend an entire day at the vineyard with the family, chatting the whole time, and then come home and call one another because we had forgotten to tell each other something.

Adventurous and full of life, Cristina passed such energy on to me, always saying “Let’s go! Let’s do!”, and thanks to her, we always did. I admired her so much and looked at her with such pride and joy. What better in life than to look at your baby – your child – as a young woman, a wife, a mother, and be in complete awe of what you see?”

Cristina’s siblings remember her as a sister and an aunt:

Caterina Birand:

“Cristina was like my mirror, and my best friend. We were two years, one day apart - she was the first person I saw every day and the last voice I heard every night for 22 years. We shared a room, wore matching outfits, celebrated every birthday with half the cake pink the other half yellow. We laughed at the same stupid jokes, watched TV with our mouths open, and stared at everyone that caught our attention to the point of embarrassment for families. Our favorite dance routine was Wham’s “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”. When we both got married and had kids, I became godmother to Isabella, she became godmother to Umberto, and together we became mothers to four children, sometimes forgetting which ones were ours. Life moved on and our reflection of each other continued, but from a distance.

In the last few years of her life, when I looked in the mirror I saw her, and I know she saw me. I can still see her and feel the bond that we’ve had since childhood. I can see her in Isabella and George, and I can feel her all around me. My mirror will always be visible because she is with me, I know. Cri, no need to worry - I will do exactly what you asked me to do. I love you forever, your Kaki.”

Phillip Kelly-Rojo:

“You took me to football games at age 5; “borrowed” moms car with an inflatable cactus to drive in the HOV lanes at age 8; backstage rehearsals for 'Godspell' and 'Princess and the Pea' at O'Connell; dancing at Quebec St. Arlington to Def Leopard tapes and Michael Jackson records; you took me to every Portfolio in Motion dress rehearsal at Marymount; we technically let your friend's car roll down the street into a tree by not pulling up on the handbrake enough, even though we were sure the second time that it was enough; you told me about being pregnant with George in Turkey; you trusted me to speak at your wedding and be your son's sponsor for Confirmation; we made fancy racoon hats in the basement of Tindall St. for Detroit Electronic Music Festival. You were always wise, caring, and vibrant, a rare combination.

I will never forget my sisters together as “the Kikas”, your greeting of “hi Peeee” when I walked into the room, your always unbiased and honest-yet-gentle opinions. You were the oldest and most responsible, the leader and our confidant... especially mom’s. When someone who is as kind, thoughtful, full of grace and even-keeled, someone who my wife truly called sister, passes, their voice speaks more clearly than before. You told me in the hospital that I'd end up being the most religious of all. I’m listening. Without knowing it, you’ve taught me to love all those around us, with all our might, while we can. You will forever be present in my heart and mind. You were truly an angel in this world, but God takes back His angels first. You were ready and willing, a testament to your faith, we were neither. Love you, Peee”

Anna-Alexandra Rojo Wildman:

“Book-smart and wise, elegant and excentric, creative and engaging…you could go on for hours describing Cristina. As her youngest sister, I always looked up to her. I wanted to be as pretty, as fashionable, as creative, as funny, as talented, and, I wanted to be as wonderful of a mother as she. I’d always figured that once I had my own children, I could look to Cristina for what, exactly, you are supposed to do with these little monkeys (as we call babies in our family). Cristina was godmother to our daughter, Fernanda, and we could not have asked for a better one. That little baby would light up whenever Zia Cri came to see her, and while she only says a few words, “Cri!” is certainly one of them.

I will forever be grateful for the gifts Cri gave us – large and small. Thanks to her artistic talents, Fernanda and her little sister-to-be have a beautifully decorated nursery. Thanks to her wisdom, their mamma feels confident about life’s choices. Thanks to her wicked sense of humor, we all know not to take ourselves too seriously.

And while I know that I may not be able to ask her advice directly anymore, I can still look to her two beautiful children as examples of how to raise confident, kind, and joyful humans – just like Cristina was herself.”

The Love Story:

Cristina and Bassam met from afar in March of 1999. At the time, Bassam was living in Riyadh, and Cristina in New York. Bassam had asked their mutual friend, Shahira, if she knew any nice Catholic girls, and Cristina was the first person that came to her mind. ‘You will love Cristina,’ she assured him, and after asking Cristina’s permission, Shahira connected the two. Bassam sent Cristina an email from his office at Lucent Technologies in Saudi, which according to him, was the nerdiest email a person could have ever written. It took Cristina a few weeks to reply…and then their correspondence began. Over time, the frequency of the emails increased, from every few weeks, to weekly, to daily. Cristina Kelly’s emails became Bassam’s primary reason to wake up, head to work, and log on in the mornings, leaving her emails for last, savoring each word.

In August ’99, the emails turned into phone calls. The phone calls became more frequent, and although they had yet to meet, the relationship blossomed, and they began to fall in love. In all of this, we may add, Bassam had never seen a full photo of Cristina, and was simply going on Shahira’s description of her and her beautiful eyes. That fall, Cristina told Bassam to watch a live airing of the Today Show. She would come out holding a sign, and he could finally see her. It was a Friday Bassam will never forget – Hootie and the Blowfish were playing outside on Rockefeller plaza near the NBC studios, Cristina had made a hand-lettered sign (“Hello, Bassam”), and she asked the cameraman to find her in the crowd. As Cristina danced to the music, that camera zoomed in on her, and then zoomed out on the sign. That was the first time Bassam laid eyes on Cristina, and he was floored.

As the relationship continued, they decided that Bassam would come to DC (where Cristina had recently returned to live) to spend the holidays (Y2K) with her and her family. Those five weeks together were all it took; Bassam, a US citizen, began applying for any available positions within his company to relocate to the US – and the very first one to respond was the office in Herndon, VA. After a quick conference with Cristina (‘Where, exactly, is Herndon?!’ It was 20 minutes from where Cristina lived!), it was decided, he moved in April 2000. Fate brought him exactly where he wanted to be – near Cristina. By May 2001, they were engaged, and in October of that same year, they were married at Saint Anne’s Catholic Church. They were twice blessed, first on July 19, 2002, with their daughter Isabella, and then on February 9, 2004, with their son George.

Brought together by fate, Cristina and Bassam lived the most perfect love story, had the most complete and loving marriage, and raised the most wonderful children. They have known each other for 25 years, were married for 22 years, and only called each other Hayati (Meaning my life in, Arabic). Their pride and joy are their beautiful children, who were instilled with the genuineness, kindness, respect, and humility that their mother and father are known for. Cristina passed these qualities on to them, and today we see everything that she taught them, in how strong, resilient, full of faith and understanding they are.

They know that Mama is their guardian angel, and to conclude, they reflect on her below:

Isabella (Who just graduated from Boston College on May 20th): “My beautiful Mama, the most wonderful mother a daughter could ever hope to have. I have always felt so lucky to call her my mother whether it’s sharing stories about her, showing people photos of her beautiful face and eyes, or sharing words of wisdom with my friends that she so eloquently bestowed upon me. Mama is one of those women that everyone wants to be like, and for me she was always the person I looked up to and wanted to be just like. I distinctly remember being a little girl and sitting with Mama in church watching her recite the Apostles’ Creed. As I stood beside her, barely able to reach her arm’s length, I just watched her in complete awe and admiration for her beauty and elegance. Her manner of speaking, standing, and moving her hands was so perfect: I cannot describe it any other way but perfect. It was like looking up at an angel, and I know in my heart that’s exactly who she’s surrounded by now in Heaven. From being a little girl to now, I have always looked at Mama that way and have always felt the most sincere, deep love and admiration for this perfect person that brought me into this world. I feel so blessed for the time I spent with her - she knew everything about me and always listened to me whenever I needed wisdom and guidance about literally anything and everything. I talked to Mama about the most important and dumbest of things going on in my life, and she always made sure to make me feel loved and adored no matter what we talked about. She constantly showed up for George and I in all areas of our lives as does our amazing baba. I have countless stories of the advice she has given me throughout my life but the most special is the last lesson she ever taught me: this past Christmas, I expressed my concerns about what the future was possibly going to look like without her by my side. I was hesitant to tell her I was thinking this way, but as soon as I did, she embraced me and held me close as we both cried together. From day one, she placed this sickness into God’s hands and felt comfort following in God’s will. She reminded me of this and said that “our reaction to things is the only thing we can control.” This is embedded deep within me now as we go through this difficult time, but as Mama said it is my reaction that I can control, and I choose to only move forward in my life with grace and elegance as Mama would. I hope to be a mother like her one day and I only wish to make her proud for the rest of my life. I love you so much Mama.”

George: “My beautiful mama, I love you so much. Mama is the person I look up to the most, someone who understood me and how I felt sometimes before I would be able to understand myself. She was the most caring Mama I could have ever asked for, kind, loving, affectionate, empathetic, the list could go on forever. What separated her was the fact that she was all these things not only to her children and family, but to everyone she met. She touched the souls of everyone she knew in a way no one else can and I saw this happen firsthand. One that stood out the most was to a man named Eddie who worked at Super Fresh. Eddie was handicapped and had a speech impediment and was there every single day. It became a routine for me and Mama to see Eddie while Isabella was at school and no matter what was going on, Mama would stop to say Hello and talk to him. I would say Hello to Eddie, stand there, listen to their conversation and struggle to understand, but without any doubt, Mama knew. I could tell from his reaction to seeing Mama that it was the highlight of his day. I will for the rest of my life, strive to be the person that she was, to be as kind and genuine to everyone no matter what. Mama, I will always be your little boy and look up to you the same way that four- and five-year-old boy did watching you talk to Eddie when we went to Super Fresh. Keep watching over and taking care of us like I know you are.”

Cristina Tamara Kelly, age 52, of Washington, District of Columbia passed away on Thursday, April 25, 2024. A funeral mass for Cristina will be held Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Saint Ann Catholic Church, 4001 Yuma Street NW, Washington, DC 20016.

Memorial contributions may be made in Cristina's honor to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org.