Anita Maria Kelley

Anita M. Kelley, age 61. She was preceded in death by her father, Maclovio Sanchez.  She is survived by her husband Michael Kelley; children: son Aaron Kelley (Wife Sam) and daughter Jessi Kelley; her mother Maria Sanchez and grandchildren: Peyton Kelley & Wrenley Kelley; Nieces & Nephews.

My mom was the kind of woman you never forget. She was warm, giving, and full of strength that showed up not in loud ways, but in the way she loved, supported, and cared for everyone around her. She was the person people went to for comfort, for advice, for honesty, and for the kind of genuine kindness that seems rare in this world.

She had a presence that made you feel safe, understood, and valued. Whether she was at work, at home, or with friends, she led with compassion. She listened deeply. She cared fiercely. And she loved without limits.

My mom’s life began here in Omaha, Nebraska, where she grew up surrounded by family, community, and the values that shaped the woman she would become. She always had a heart for caring for others, and that calling led her to Nebraska Methodist College, where she pursued nursing- a profession that perfectly matched her compassion, her strength, and her ability to make people feel safe and understood.

And then shortly after that became one of the most unforgettable chapters of her story- the moment she packed up her life and moved to Arizona to try and see if the boy she met only 2 weeks prior was worth the risk. She told her own mom, during only their first week of dating, that she had a special feeling about him, and asked her how she felt about having him as a son-in-law. The feeling ended up being a calling to the life she was destined to share with him. What started as a bold leap of faith turned into a lifelong love. Arizona ended up working out, and soon they returned home to Omaha, where they built a life, got married, and started a family that would end up becoming her greatest joy.

Her career in healthcare spanned nearly 15 years, she poured her entire heart into every role she took on. She worked in labor and delivery, helping bring new life into the world. She worked in cardiology, mental health, home health, and so much more. She truly was the jack of all trades throughout her nursing career. In every department, she made people feel valued, heard, and cared for. Nursing wasn’t just a job for her; it was her life’s mission. She treated her patients like friends and family, and they loved her for it.

Her passion for healthcare once retired from nursing expanded into the world of alternative medicine, where she found purpose in promoting nutritional supplements through a company called Mannatech for 10 years. She had so many wonderful experiences and met lifelong friends during that time of her life.

She later dedicated herself to focusing her passions more thoroughly on women’s health. She dedicated 10 years of her life as a clinical thermographer- a safer, gentler alternative to mammograms. She believed deeply in giving women a better understanding on breast health, offering them alternative options to start with, and endless support. She touched the hearts of countless lives through that work.

But her legacy didn’t stop there.

For nearly 50 years, she was also one of the familiar, welcoming faces of our family business- a place where she formed lifelong relationships, greeted generations of customers, and made everyone feel like part of the family. People didn’t just come for the service; they came because they loved her. Because she remembered them. Remembered their orders. Because she cared. She had a way of making you feel like you mattered when you walked through the door.

She worked tirelessly, day after day, year after year, and did it all with grace, kindness, and pride. That business became an extension of her heart- a place where her warmth reached far beyond our family and into the community.

Her life was not defined by a single moment or achievement, but by a lifetime of showing up, giving, caring, and loving. Throughout her career, her passions, and her dedication, she left a legacy of compassion strength, and connection that will be lived on through every person she touched.

My mother lived so many roles in this world, and she carried each one with love, pride, and a sense of responsibility that came directly from her heart.

As a best friend, she was the kind of woman you held onto for a lifetime. She had friendships that lasted five decades- bonds built on, loyalty, trust, and a love that never wavered no matter how much life changed. She wasn’t just a friend; she was a steady presence, a confidant, the person you could call at any hour and know she would be there without hesitation. Her loyalty was unmatched. If she loved you, she loved you forever. She supported her friends through every high and every heartbreak, celebrated their wins like they were her own, and stood beside them during the hardest moments with strength and compassion. Her friendships were not temporary seasons- they were lifelong commitments, the kind that shaped people and stayed with them long after the moment had passed. She didn’t just have friends… she built her own chosen family. And those friendships were some of the greatest treasures of her life.

As a daughter, she was devoted, loyal, and deeply connected to the people who raised her. She shared a bond with her own mother that was truly rare. They weren’t just mother and daughter- they were best friends. They talked every day, supported each other through every season of life, and built a relationship that was rooted in love, trust, and friendship. She loved her parents fiercely, and she carried that love throughout her entire life.

As a sister, the two of them were complete opposites in so many ways, which somehow made them work perfectly together. He was the funny one, always cracking jokes, always trying to get a reaction out of her…and she was the one rolling her eyes, pretending to be annoyed while secretly loving every second. Their differences made their relationship special. She balanced him, and he brought out her laughter. She loved him for exactly who he was- his humor, his personality, his big presence- and he loved her just the same.

As a wife, she spent nearly her entire life with my dad- her best friend, her partner, her soulmate of 40 years. Their story is rare for this day and age. Not too many people get the privilege of being able to grow up together, build a life together, and stand by each other through all the seasons of life one goes through in a 40-year timeframe. They were truly opposites in so many ways, and that’s what made their connection so special. Where one was strong, the other was steady. Where one was loud, the other was calm. Where one led, the other supported. They balanced each other and loved each other in a way that didn’t need explanation- you could just see it by being around them. Their love wasn’t perfect, no relationship that long ever is, but it was the kind of love that survives the hardest moments and celebrates the smallest joys. They built a home together, a family together, and a life filled with loyalty, laughter, and an unspoken bond. She wasn’t just my dad’s wife- she was his companion, his peace, his heart, his home, and the person who stood beside him for four decades full of memories, challenges, and love.

As a mother, she poured her entire heart into her children. She loved both my brother and I with a depth that shaped every part of her life. The bond she shared with my brother was incredibly special- she was his safe place, his biggest supporter, and the person he could count on no matter what. They had a closeness built on understanding, patience, and the quiet, unwavering kind of love only a mother and son can share. She was so proud of him, the man he became, the father he is becoming, and the relationship they built together.

And for me… she was my everything. She wasn’t just my mom- she was my best friend, my confidant, and the person who understood me in a way no one else ever could. We had a bond that went far beyond the roles we were given; it was a friendship, a sisterhood, a connection that has been reincarnated in every lifetime. She was the first person I wanted to share good news with, the one I turned to when life felt heavy, and the person who could make me feel okay just by being in her presence or hearing her voice.

She loved us both differently, beautifully, and unconditionally- and she made us feel like we were the greatest gift she’d ever been given. The love she gave us is something we will feel and carry for the rest of our lives.

As an Aunt and Great- Aunt, she was so much more than a relative- she was a mother figure to almost every one of her nieces and nephews. She loved them as if they were her own children. She showed up for them with open arms, endless support, and that special kind of warmth that made each of them feel like they were her favorite.

She celebrated their milestones, cheered them on through every chapter of life, and made them believe they could do anything. As they grew into adults- she was so proud of who they became- the people they grew into, the choices they made, and the lives they built. Watching them become parents themselves brought her even more joy. She loved seeing the next generation raised with so much love, strength, and compassion- qualities she knew she helped nurture in them. She never missed a chance to say how much she loved them or how lucky she felt to be a part of their lives. She loved her nieces and nephews with a fullness that was unconditional and it changed their lives forever.

As a Grandmother, she loved with a depth that cannot be measured. Her bond with her first grandchild Peyton, was something truly special. From the moment he was born, he became her world. She was his Nana- his home away from home, his biggest cheerleader, and his safe place when he came into Omaha. She treasured every moment she spent with him, and she carried those memories with her through every hard day. Peyton gave her a reason to smile, a reason to keep going, and a reason to fight.

Just days before her passing she met her brand new granddaughter Wrenley- a moment that felt like a gift, a full-circle blessing. Even in her final days, she found strength and love in holding that tiny new life. Though she didn’t get the time with her that she dreamed of, there is comfort in knowing she will watch over both of her grandchildren as their guardian angel.

They were truly her life’s purpose and her greatest joy. They gave her the strength to keep pushing, to keep fighting, to hold on for as long as she could. Her love for them was endless, powerful, and eternal- a love that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

For the last three years, my mom fought a battle that would’ve broken most people. Her journey with breast cancer was long, painful, and filled with challenges that many never even realized she was facing- because that’s how she wanted it. She was proud, she was private, and she never wanted anyone to worry about her. She didn’t want to be seen as sick. She wanted people to see her happy and strong, just as she had always been.

And somehow… even in the middle of the hardest moments of her life, she managed to do exactly that. She showed up. She smiled. She kept going. She worked full-time until her body physically couldn’t anymore. She pushed through pain most of us couldn’t even imagine- not because she had to, but because that’s who she was. She was determined, resilient, and unbelievably brave.

She is the strongest person we know. Truly. Few people could’ve endured what she did with grace, courage, and the stubborn determination she carried. She fought quietly, she fought fiercely, and she fought with love- for her family, for her grandchildren, for the people who depended on her.

The impact she made – on every single person in this room- will stay with us forever she touched lives in ways that words will never be able to fully capture. Her kindness, her strength, her laughter, her love… those things are engraved in us forever.

She will never be forgotten. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. And even though she’s no longer here physically, we know she will be watching over us always. Her spirit, her guidance, and her love will continue to surround us, protect us, and walk with us through every chapter of our lives.

Her fight is over, but her legacy is eternal.