Obituary of Kathleen Kelley

Kathleen "Katie" Kelley, a Chico native, embraced eternity on February 1, 2013. For several years she had been waging a difficult struggle with Bipolar disorder. She was 28-years old at the time of her passing. On Saturday, Feb 9 a hundred friends and admirers gathered with her grief stricken family to celebrate a remarkable life cut short. Katie was a brilliant and multi-talented person. She was an extraordinary writer and editor. She was also a talented artist, philosopher, and fierce chess player. She made her mark as a musician in the Chico area band scene. Most of all, she is remembered for the kindness, empathy, and unselfish love she displayed to friends and strangers alike, even while struggling with her illness. She tried her best to model Christ's injunction to "Love each other as I have loved you". Her mother, Alexandra O'Neil and many of her friends believe that she was, in part, a casualty of the dysfunctional US mental health care system. Her family is grateful to the Jesus Center and Sabbath House for providing her with a warm, safe, loving refuge in the last months of her life. They came tragically close to launching Katie on a new path of emotional and spirtual peace. The family requests that donations be sent in her name to the Jesus Center at 1297 Park Ave., Chico, CA 95928.