Kelly Jackson O’Brien, 38, of Avoca, passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness on December 2, 2022, at Allied Services Hospice, Wilkes-Barre, surrounded by her family and friends. She was born on July 23, 1984 and was the daughter of Thomas and Anna Paglianite Jackson.
Kelly was a member of Queen of the Apostles Parish Church, Avoca. She was a 2002 graduate of Seton Catholic High School. She attended Luzerne County Community College, Empire Beauty School, and was a licensed cosmetologist. Up until her illness, she worked for the Avoca Borough as borough secretary. She also served as vice-president of the Avoca Community Committee and President of its Sesquicentennial Committee.
Kelly’s kindness and open heart made her easy to love and difficult to forget. She was surrounded by lifelong friends who adored her and colleagues who admired her. The gift of her friendship will remain alive in those close to her.
Kelly shared a deep and abiding bond with her daughter, Sadie. Sadie was Kelly’s “mini-me” and will likely thrive given the immensity of Kelly’s love.
She loved to cook and was great at it! You could always find her watching the Food Network. She looked forward to her Food Network Magazine arriving every month.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, Earl O’Brien, her daughter Sadie, and her dog Dallas. Also surviving is her mother-in-law, Marie O’Brien, numerous, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by father-in-law, John “Jack” O’Brien, maternal grandparents Frank and Dorothy Paglianite, paternal grandparents Joseph and Mary Jackson, and uncle William Jackson.
Kelly’s family would like to give a special thank you to the doctors and nurses at Geisinger Wyoming Valley, Penn Medical Center, Philadelphia, Allied Services Hospice, Dr. Kevin Musto, Dr. Bryan Martin, Dr. Julio Ramos and all her cardiology doctors at Geisinger Wyoming Valley for their compassionate care. Also, a very special thank you to her best friends, who are like sisters, for always being there for Kelly and Sadie; Holly Wilk Homschek, Melissa Edwards, Liz Baldassari, and Jessica McDermott McDonnell.
A mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, December 6th at 10:00am at Queen of the Apostles Parish Church, 215 Hawthorne St., Avoca with Fr. Phillip Sladicka officiating. Friends may call on Monday evening, December 5th from 5-8pm at Kiesinger Funeral Services, Inc., 255 McAlpine St., Duryea. Family and friends are asked to go directly to the church on Tuesday for the mass. There will be no procession from the funeral home. Interment will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Avoca.
$Jackson #O’Brien