Karen Ann Kelly

Karen Ann Kelly passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on June 15, 2023 after a long battle with cancer.

She was born in Oakland California and moved around with her parents working in the weather bureau. She lived in such places as Wake Island. Hawaii, West Virginia and finally in Long Island, New York as well as spending summers with relatives in Nebraska. She graduated from high school in Massapequa Park and received her diploma from Nassau community college in nursing. She started her Nursing career in New York but soon moved to Albuquerque to be near her parents who retired to Moriarty New Mexico. She worked at UNMH, Veterans Hospital, Then Presbyterian all in their operating rooms. She worked up to being special program coordinator and set up protocols for IVF, Kidney and Heart transplant programs there. She then moved to Lovelace on Gibson until its closure where she Transferred to Lovelace Women’s Hospital. She became charge nurse in the Operating Room until she medically retired after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

She loved knitting, reading and caring for her grandchildren. She and her husband traveled extensively and visited over 35 countries.  She is preceded in death by her parents Chuck and Ione Rich, her in-laws Carter and Rosanna Kelly and sister in-law Dawn Witiuk. She is survived by her loving husband of 46 years Patrick, her children son Kenneth Rich, daughter Andrea (Sam) Lutes, son Sean Kelly and son Devin (Amanda) Kelly  as well as 8 grandchildren Mattison and Samantha Rich, Carson, Quentin, Trevor and Lorelei Lutes and Brayden and Killian Kelly.  She was a Loving wife, Loving mother and Doting grandmother and will be sorely missed.

A Viewing will take place on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. followed by the service and  interment will be on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 12:30 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.