Obituaries

Elizabeth "Betty" Ainslie Kelly, of Woodsedge Apts. in Lansing, passed away Friday, July 3, 2009, at the age of 94, at Cayuga Medical Center surrounded by her loving family.

Born December 6, 1914, Betty was the daughter of the late J. Stuart and Elizabeth (Boyd) Ainslie. As a young child she and her family lived in various parts of the United States and Canada before coming home to Ithaca where she graduated in 1932 from Ithaca High School. Betty attended college at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. In 1939 she married the late Roland J. Kelly and together they raised six children on various dairy farms around central New York. Later in 1952 they settled in Lansing, New York where they made Sharpsteen Road their home. Betty was employed at The Cornell University Veterinary College, where she worked for over 20 years as a lab technician. Betty had many interests. She and Roland were instrumental in regenerating the Ithaca Farmer's Market. She was a member of the North Lansing Auxiliary, a past secretary of the Lansing Senior Citizens, a member of the L.O.A.P. program, and enjoyed bowling in the Senior League. Betty was involved in many knitting projects over the years such as caps for newborns at the Cayuga Medical Center. All of these activities ranked second to her family, as they were her primary focus and a source of much love and joy.

 

Betty is survived by her children, Roland S. "Ron" (Patricia) Kelly of Sarasota, FL, Katharine (Jon) Nedrow of Lansing, John R. (Shirley) Kelly of Groton, Margaret (Don) Palmer of Groton, Connie E. (Peter Forlano) Deigl of Ithaca and Joan (Bruce) Kobasa of Lansing; 17 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. She also leaves her brother, James S. (Shirley) Ainslie of Ithaca; a brother-in-law, George (Vicki) Kelly of Jamesville, NY; a large extended family, and her faithful feline companion, Sandy.

 

In addition to her parents and her husband who died in 1991, Betty was preceded in death by an infant son, Richard.

 

Those wishing to remember Betty in the form of a contribution are asked to kindly consider Hospicare of Tompkins County, 172 E. King Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850, Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, PO Box 196, Libertyville, IL 60048, or their favorite charity.

 

Family will be present to receive friends on Wednesday, July 8th from 5-7pm at Lansing Funeral Home, 32 Auburn Rd., Lansing, NY. A Funeral Service, officiated by Rev. David Braid, will be held on Thursday, July 9th at 2pm at the funeral home, followed by prayers of committal at North Lansing Cemetery.