Deborah Kelly

Deborah Jean Kelly (Renslow)

October 17, 1953 – December 1, 2025

Deborah Jean “Debbie” Kelly, age 72, passed away peacefully on December 1, 2025. Debbie was a fun-loving, energetic soul with a quick wit and a spirit that could light up any room. She was known for testing people’s patience from time to time, but it was always paired with the best intentions and a heart full of love.

Debbie lived her entire life with ataxia and spent most of her adult years in a wheelchair, yet she never allowed it to define her. She faced every challenge with humor, strength, and an unmistakable lightness of heart that inspired everyone around her.

Her greatest love was her family. She cherished her husband, Frank; her devoted mother, Diane; her siblings, Jim (Teri) and Rick (Stephanie); and her beloved nieces and nephew, Erin, Meghan, Chandelle (Dylan) and Corbin. She was also a proud and loving great-aunt to Myles, Dash, Banks, and Howie, who brought her endless joy.

Debbie was fiercely loyal, deeply dedicated, and would do anything for those she loved. One of the greatest blessings of her life was her “frister” (friend/sister), Jodi, Their bond was rare and beautiful — the kind of friendship that will live on forever.

In 2017, Debbie was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer that later spread to her bones. Even while battling this disease, she remained devoted to her family, faithfully making the trip to River Falls three times a week to visit her mother. Two and a half years ago, Debbie made the brave decision to stop treatments so she could live the rest of her life fully and on her own terms — and that is exactly what she did.

Debbie will be remembered for her strength, her humor, her fierce love, and the unwavering joy she carried through every season of her life. She leaves behind a legacy of resilience, loyalty, and unconditional love that will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Debbie is proceeded in death by her beloved husband, Frank Kelly, her Dad Richard (Dick) Renslow and her brother Rick Renslow. 

We are forever grateful to all of Debbie's caregivers over the years, with a special thank you to Prelude Homes and their loving staff who cared for her so tenderly in her final days.

A celebration of life for Debbie will be held on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at O’Halloran and Murphy Funeral Home, 8700 Valley Creek Road, Woodbury, MN 55125. A lunch will follow at noon.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Deborah Kelly, please visit our floral store.