Kelli Janise Dionne

Family-Placed Obituary

Kelli Dionne, mother, daughter, sister and good friend passed away due to complications from pneumonia on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2003, while on vacation in Virginia. As sweet as pecan pie and feisty as an alley cat, Kelli blew into our lives on September 12, 1960, and left a part of her within each of our hearts and souls. We will be forever better by her presence and are deeply saddened by her loss. Her friend Eileen wrote the following poem in 1997 and is in the National Library of Poetry. One of a Kind Dedicated to Kelli My friend Kelli, one of a kind No one can equal, not in my mind A little rough around the edges, but crystal inside She tells it like it is, nothin' to hide A son with medical problems, a father now gone Not wavering in hard times, just marchin' on As she focuses on the good things, and makes the most Of friends, good times fishing hole on the coast Life doesn't always turn out the way we had planned And the answers can't be found in castles in the sand Some people go on day by day complaint at every turn Others enjoy what God gives and from hard times they learn They say it's adversity that makes us what we are After all, new tissue is what makes up a scar Each disappointment, each heartache is a feather one more Without which we would never have the wings to soar What we are dealt in life is beyond our control But how we choose to handle it, comes from the soul E. Stewart Kelli was preceded in death by her father, George Vernon Thomas. Kelli is survived by her mother, Billie Sue Cook and husband, Chuck of Houston, Tx.; sister, Bambee; and brother, Scott, also of Houston, Tx.; sister, Candee of Dallas, Tx.; son, Sean Halliburton of Austin, Tx.; daughter, Shea Castillo and husband, Olivo of Leander, Tx.; grandchildren, Olivo III and Elias (Guapo) Castillo; boyfriend, Donald New; and best friend and confidante, Greg Cunningham. A celebration of her life is planned on Saturday, December 6, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at her mother's home at 203 Doverfield Dr. in Houston, Tx., 77037. There will also be a similar celebration at Greg's home at 12117 Wander Lane in Austin, Tx. on Sunday, December 7, from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. You may contact Greg at gcunningham@austinrr.com for more info.