Obituary of Cathleen Kelly Cathleen Mary Kelly, 63, passed away on Friday, October 5, 2018. Cathleen was born September 25, 1955 in Jamestown, N. Y., the daughter of Wallace and Mary Jane Carlson. Cathleen was employed by Maddox Table Company of Jamestown, N. Y. and rose to the level of Supervisor of Decoration and Design.
She was honored as the first female Supervisor-Foreman in the Jamestown furniture industry. Her revolutionary designs were shown at the High Point furniture exposition with great success. Cathleen was employed as an interior decorator for Holmlund Wall Paper and Paint, and as the Hardware Manager for Walmart in Lakewood, N. Y. She worked throughout her career as an independent visual artist.
Cathy was a professional vocalist and sang extensively in the Jamestown area with numerous bands including Razz and Friends, Tony Caramia (now head of Jazz Studies for the Eastman School of Music), The Harold Olsen Big Band, Jokers Wild and others. She sang professionally in Florida resorts, Puerto Rico, and NYC. She has sung with the Ink Spots and with The Dave Brubeck Quartet.
Cathy’s father was a master plumber and Cathy would often work on jobs with him and eventually was sent off to work on her own to the amazement of other plumbers and customers. Their usual response was, “What? A female plumber?
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” Cathy worked for Paragon Cable as a production traffic editor and as a camera operator. Eventually she would produce commercials and do location videoing. Cathleen was also an actress appearing in lead and supporting roles at the Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown.
She appeared frequently in leading roles for the Uncommoners of Jamestown Community College. She would often work behind the scenes as a musical coach or pianist as well. Cathy contributed her time and talents generously to the Music Department of Jamestown Community College.
She assisted in concert production, coaching performers, accompanying singers and offered many suggestions that helped the Department improve and grow. Cathleen was matriculated at Jamestown Community College and was a graduate of Maple Grove High School where she was active in sports, theatre and music. She was a lead performer in a number of their musicals, a member of the Village Singers, Editor of an underground newspaper and was the recipient of an AFS scholarship allowing her to study in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Cathy’s favorite charities included St. Judes Hospital, Special Olympics, the Humane Society, the Chautauqua County Humane Society and the ASPCA. Cathleen was a wonderful chef and loved to cook for family and friends and they loved to dine! She was interim manager of the Chautauqua County Airport Restaurant.
Cathy had a special communication with animals, often being called “an animal whisperer” by those who knew her well. She rescued and nursed to health all forms of “critters” from squirrels to horses. With two exceptions, all her pets were rescue animals throughout her life.
Cathleen faced many vicissitudes in her life. She bravely fought many ongoing battles with health and circumstances without complaint or self pity. At her lowest points she looked out for the welfare of others, both human and animal.
She had a glorious, indomitable, generous and loving spirit that remains with those of us who knew and loved her. What Mark Twain wrote about his own wife is certainly true for Cathy. “Wheresoever she was, there was Eden”.
Cathleen was preceded in death by her father, Wallace O. Carlson, her Mother, Mary Jane Carlson, her brother, Mark A. Carlson and her aunt, Doris Anderson. She is survived by her husband of thirty-eight years, Michael F. Kelly, her sister, Cynthia Carlson, her aunt, Shirley Thorp and her uncle, Lanny Anderson. Those wishing to memorialize Cathy are asked to donate to the Chautauqua County Humane Society in lieu of flowers.
Visiting hours are Thursday, 10/18/18 from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Falconer Funeral Home, Falconer N. Y. A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, 10/20/18, 11 am at the Lakewood United Methodist Church, Lakewood, N. Y. Visit our website www. falconerfuneralhome.net to send a message of condolence.
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