GREENE, Kelly W., 46, Jan. 24, 2016. Interment will be in the spring at the Island Falls Cemetery. Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home, Houlton.
ISLAND FALLS — Dr. Kelly Welsh Greene, 46, passed away in Island Falls on January 24, 2016 after a six-year battle with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer. She was born September 6, 1969 in Alliance, Ohio to David K. and Cathleen A. Welsh.
Kelly graduated from Alliance High School in 1987, completing her BS in Pharmacy from Ohio Northern University in 1993 and her PharmD at the University of Rhode Island in 2003. Kelly was licensed to practice pharmacy in five states and enjoyed her clinical experience at Maine Children’s Cancer Program and the Maine Poison Control Center. Kelly served as the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, where she enriched the lives of nearly five thousand children a year.
In 2002, she married Benjamin L. Greene in Yarmouth, Maine, moving to Haverhill, Massachusetts shortly thereafter to serve as Clinical Pharmacist at the Tewksbury State Hospital during her husband’s seminary training. In 2008, Ben and Kelly moved to Island Falls to raise their two beautiful daughters, Esther Grace and Ruth Elizabeth in a caring, rural community.
Kelly was a member of First Baptist Church in Haverhill, Massachusetts and the United Baptist Church in Island Falls, Maine. She served faithfully as a minister’s wife and led ladies Bible-studies for several years. Her favorite Scripture was Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Proud of her Italian heritage, Kelly loved raising Roma sauce tomatoes, rolling hand-made pasta and drying herbs. She took great joy in her daughters, schooling them at home with loving care and incredible determination throughout her illness.
Kelly is survived by her husband, Benjamin, daughters, Esther and Ruth, parents, Dave and Cathy Welsh, brother Keith and his fiancee, Kim Gallina, aunts and uncles, Connie and Paul Mohr, Sherrie and Thomas Martin, Shellie and Richard Lepucki, Karen Custar, Darlene and Jerry Packey; cousins, Brent Packey, Brian Packey, Paul Mohr, Amy McClowery, Melissa Duncan; and niece, Athena Welsh and nephew, Ashton Welsh, of whom she was very proud. She is predeceased by her grandparents, Sylvia and Sam Greenfield, John Custar, Grace and Leon Welsh, and uncle, Gary Custar.
Special thanks to Dr. Tracy Weinberg and her heroic team at New England Cancer Specialists, whose professional skill and genuine care made two trips to Italy, more time with her family and joy beyond illness possible.
Friends may call 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at the United Baptist Church of Island Falls, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. Richard J. Harrington officiating. Spring interment will be in the Island Falls Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the United Baptist Church toward Esther’s and Ruthie’s 529 Education Funds. For online condolences, please visit www.bowersfuneral.com.
