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Obituaries

OBITUARY: Nancy Kelly, 76

Mrs. Kelly, an Apple Valley resident and former School District 196 employee, was a native of the Philippines and worked at Chicago's legendary WGN. And, she became an American citizen in 1987. She passed away Oct. 2.

Editor's note: The following is an obituary published by White Funeral Home.

Nancy Ru-djen Fonacier-Kelly was born in Manila, Philippines to Tomas Suguitan Fonacier and Consuelo Valdez on Oct. 19, 1935. She lived with her parents and sister, Maria Linda Fonacier-Sherman (husband Jack Sherman) in Quezon City near the University. She attended University of the Philippines High School and earned a B.A. from the University of the Philippines. She later came to the United States to study and obtained a Master's degree in Radio and Television from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and worked for WGN in Chicago as a writer. During her time in Chicago, her beloved cousin, Angelo Ventura, saw to it that she was introduced to the "American way" and would take her out on the town in the big city. He preceded her in death in September, 2006.

She and Ronald J. Kelly were married on Sept. 10, 1961, in Evanston. Together they had four children, eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild: son Tom Kelly and his wife, Vivi-Anne, and their children (Jackson, Isabella, Hugh), daughter Maria Kelly and her husband, Peter Largen, and her children (Paris and Angelo Kelvakis,) daughter Bridget Kelly and her husband,Troy, and their children (Zayle, Kaz, and Izak Swope,) daughter Cynthia Kelly and her partner, Tedd Johnson, and her children (Geoffrey Nordby, Kira Westberg, and Aly Grebner,) and great-grandchild, Schuyler Nordby.

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Nancy worked for Independent School District 196 for 24 years. At work, she was known as "Kelly" and was the happy face and voice of the front desk at Valley Middle School for several years before moving to the District Office in Rosemount. As her children were growing up, she also served as the president of the PTA and was a well known and well-loved member of the school community. She was very proud to become a U.S. citizen in 1987.

After she retired, she was able to travel the world with Ronald and together they visited Germany, Switzerland, China, Thailand, Egypt, Jordan, Petra, Australia, New Zealand, Figi, Austria, Hong Kong, and took several cruises to places like the Panama Canal, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska. She was able to return to her home in the Philippines many times, traveling with all of her children on two occasions.

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Those closest to her know that her pride and joy was her family. She dedicated herself entirely to the care and well-being of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild. She exemplified unconditional love and her ability to give to her family was limitless. Her sense of humor would brighten every meal as she would often laugh the hardest at her own jokes. Nancy knew how to enjoy life and she openly shared this love with all who knew her. She will be greatly missed. Funeral service 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, with visitation starting at 5 p.m. at White Funeral Home, 14560 Pennock Ave., Apple Valley.

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