I’ll never forget the day I met Kelly. I was a new owner on Home Avenue and surprisingly, my windows overlooked into her front yard. My first day visiting the condo after closing, she was raking the fall leaves in her yard. Without hesitation she greeted me, spoke with my mother, and offered her support if I needed anything. I was new to Oak Park and, as a young owner, I was afraid that it would be difficult to make neighborhood friends.
But that wasn’t the case with Kelly. We talked through my window and while she was on her front porch – about the loud music, the illegal parking on our street, and our beat officer cop. One time I even joked over text that we needed to advocate for a ‘No Parking’ sign on the short curb between our driveways, because people should be just as afraid to get a ticket on our block as I am when dashing into Starbucks (while being illegally parked) on Lake street lol. She laughed at my message, and in turn, invited me to her Halloween party the following week. She welcomed me and another condo owner into her home with open arms and kindness, not because it was custom, but rather because that’s just who she was.
I will sincerely miss knowing such a genuine and good person. She was a friend to me and helped make OP home. To my kindest neighbor and one I will never forget, may you rest in perfect peace and the light you left in all of us continue to carry on.