Kathleen "Kay" Skelly's Obituary
Kathleen was born in Sacramento, CA on January 6, 1916. Her father worked for Shell Oil Company and tragically at age 33 he became ill and died. Kathleen was only 8 years old. She attended Holy Rosary Academy, a convent school where her mother previously attended. Since her mother had to now work, Kathleen lived at the school as well.
A man who knew her mother before she married, was now living in San Francisco, came to Woodland. He learned she was now widowed and he courted her for over a year. They eventually married and everyone moved to San Francisco. Kathleen described him as kind and loving. Kathleen at this time attended St. Charles another Catholic school during her middle school years. When it was time to attend high school Kathleen convinced her mother to let her attend Commerce High School. In order to get to this school she took public transportation.
Being that it was too expensive to attend college, Kathleen decided she wanted to be a cosmetician and attended Dolores Premier School in San Francisco. She worked for 2 years in San Francisco and then the family decided to move to Woodland to be closer to aging grandparents.
Kathleen met Frank Skelly at a party and from the beginning liked him very much. He was teaching at the high school and Kathleen was working as a cosmetician. One summer Frank went to summer school near Mt. Shasta. Kathleen had just bought a new car. She talked a friend into going with her to see Frank. Once in Mt. Shasta Frank, Kathleen and two of their friends piled into the new car and they drove to Medford Oregon where they married! Her mother liked Frank but she wanted Kathleen to have a big wedding. Instead she hosted a big party where many from Woodland attended.
After 7 1/2 years of marriage, Frank was called to serve in WWII. Kathleen helped the war effort by working at Mathers Air Force Base for two years. At one point Kathleen visited Frank while he was based in Louisiana. In November 1944 she gave birth to their son. When Frank returned home he saw his son for the first time and his son seeing his dad as a stranger cried! An old friend of Frank’s urged him to join him in Alameda. Kathleen enjoyed being both a wife and a mother. During this time Frank obtained both a Master’s and Doctorate degree and became a principal. Their son was drafted and sent to Vietnam. Kathleen and Frank traveled extensively to South America, China and Japan. Kathleen was a volunteer at Alameda Hospital beginning in 1967 where she first brought TV’s to the patient’s room when requested. A few years later she served as a Floor Hostess. She was a natural at helping the patients. Since February 2010 Kathleen resided at Watermark Rosewood Gardens in Livermore. On Tuesday July 12th in the late afternoon she passed peacefully. She is survived by her son Bruce Skelly; daughter-in-law, Mary Barbara; many nieces and nephews and a very dear family friend Veronica Marquez. Visitation will be held from 12 Noon until 1 PM, Sunday, July 31, 2016 at Chapel of the Chimes. Funeral Service will begin at 1 pm at Chapel of the Chimes – Memories Room with entombment to follow in the mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity.
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