Patricia "Patty" Kellett

Patricia Kellett, born Helen Kellett, passed away on September 1, 2023. Although it wasn’t on her birth certificate, she was known as Pat, Patty or Patricia her entire life. She was born on July 14, 1934 to Edward and Helen Textor. She grew up in Sylvania, Ohio, graduating from Burnham High School in 1952. That very same year she met the man she would be married to for over 69 years: Harry Kellett. They met in March of that year and dated for almost 2 years. They were married January 16, 1954. In April of 1955 they gave birth to the first of 5 children: Harry Kellett, Jr (Butch), Pamela Leigh, Steven Mark, Gregory Glen, and Kimberly Sue. Pam and Kim preceded her in death.

Pat worked various jobs early in their marriage, including: clerk for the Lion’s store, teller for Economy Savings and Loan, and as a store detective for various retail stores in the Toledo, Ohio area. In 1965, she began a 27-year career as a bus driver for the Toledo City School System. She eventually became the Driver Trainer for the School District.

Patty’s greatest love was her family. She was married to Harry for over 69 years, 7 months. During that time, she had the opportunity to love 5 children, 8 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Harry and Pat were travelers! Some of the family’s fondest memories include summer vacations camping and fishing. Trips to places like the AuSable River, Pine Lake, Rice Lake, Manistee and other places in Michigan; Dale Hallow Reservoir in Kentucky, the French River in Ontario and Betula Lake in Manitoba, Canada. Some of the best memories came from the many summer weekends camping and fishing at “Hell Creek” in Michigan state.

After Harry and Pat became empty nesters, they were able to take adventures all over the United States. Pat was able to visit at least 45 of the 50 states, including a cruise to Alaska for their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

After retiring from the bus garage in 1991. Harry and Pat would go to California every summer to work on their gold claim, searching for gold. They would take one of their grandchildren with them just about every year.

While there, almost every weekend Patty and Dad would drive over to Reno and take in a show. One of Pat's favorite activities was playing those slot machines - and amazingly, she often won, taking home more money than she had before she got there.

Some of Patty's favorite activities included spending time with their friends, and playing pinochle, and bunco with her sorority sisters at the “Beta Sigma Phi” Sorority. She was a member of that Sorority for over 30 years. 

Back before the onset of computers and cell phones, one of Patricia’s favorite activities was talking on the phone. She spent hours on the phone. She's one of the few people who could stretch a 20-foot phone cord 30 feet, tucked under her ear while washing dishes and cleaning the house for hours on end.

1991 marked the first of 3 trips to Australia to visit Greg and Grace and their 3 children. Her grandchildren were the apples of her eye. She loved her grandchildren.

89 years is a long time to be on this earth. That's how many years Patricia Kellett was given. And she filled those years with good family, good friends, good work, good fun, good travel, and a lot of love. She will be missed by everyone who knew and loved her.

PIER FUNERAL HOME WOULD LIKE TO ADVISE YOU THAT THE MEMORIAL TREE PROGRAM DOES NOT PLANT A TREE IN A PLACE OF YOUR CHOOSING, AND DOES NOT NOTIFY THE FAMILY OF YOUR GIFT.

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