Stella Eileen Kelly

This message was sent to Sue Gipson-Price by Mary W Phillips, WPHS Class of '61 (www.wphsalumni-1961.com)

Stella Eileen Kelly ("Kelly") passed away in her home, the Shamrock Chateau in Gainesville, GA on Sunday, March 25, 2007. Kelly was born in Orlando on July 24, 1947 to Homer and Carinel Kelly who predeceased her. She graduated from Winter Park High School, Winter Park, FL and Jones Business College in Jacksonville, FL, and returned to Orlando to work for Martin Marietta. Fulfilling a need to expand her horizons, she began a 33-year career with Delta Airlines as a flight attendant. During those years, Kelly traveled the world while living in both San Francisco and Atlanta. In 1980, she bought a structure built in 1945 that had once been a general store, gas station and beauty parlor. She enjoyed renovating it into the Shamrock Chateau, both her home and a bed and breakfast inn located at Lake Sidney Lanier. She met her husband Ray in 1990, and together they continued to renovate the Shamrock Chateau and to travel the waters of the Southeast in their boat, Panfilo. Kelly was diagnosed with a very invasive breast cancer in 1993, and she was an inspiration to her family and friends by continuing on with her very active life, despite the difficulties imposed by the disease. Kelly is survived by her husband Ray Stang and his son Christopher Stang, her sister Susan Kelly Simasek and her husband Regis Simasek, her niece Karen Simasek-Santos and her husband Alex Santos, her nephew Regis Martin Simasek, her sister-in-law Susan Caspar, her five great nieces and nephews, and her many friends who she loved and cherished. Kelly's body will be cremated. The date of her wake and a celebration of her life will be announced later. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you remember Kelly with donations to Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center, 2150 Limestone Parkway, Suite 222, Gainesville, GA 30501 or a charity of your choice. Memorial Park Funeral Home of Gainesville, GA.

-- Orlando Sentinel, The (FL) - Tuesday, March 27, 2007