Obituary of Kelly Marie Hartman

Kelly Marie Hartman, was born December 19, 1984 in San Diego, California. She was born at 11:37pm and was a night person ever since! She made her first trip to NY when she was just one month old, moving there at age 3. Home base was now Great Neck, NY surrounded by loving family and friends.

Her earliest adventures were with her friends Michael Currivan and Stephanie Lawrence while her school year escapades with Marie, Ilana, Stephanie, Marnie and Ivy. Our travels revolved around nature, camping, rock hunting and fun. The constant in these adventures were the Bickerstaff and McKenzie families, our best friends and Kelly’s favorite was our annual outing with them to the Herkimer Diamond Mines. Kelly ‘s goal was to see all 50 states, she was more than halfway there. She loved Roller Coasters and her thrill ride companions were her godparents, Mary Ann and Kevin Kelly, who would whisk Kelly away and spoil her. They said in the early years that through Kelly they were practicing to be grandparents. Even though she had been to Mexico as a toddler and Canada as a young girl our world travels began with a trip to Colombia with Stella and Stephanie, then off to merry ole England for New Year’s with the McKenzie’s & Bickerstaff’s at the age of 13, then across Italy for her high school graduation. Kelly attended the University of Rochester for one frozen year before her health issues really began to take hold of her life. We went for a relaxing trip to Bermuda and met up with Frank and Scott in Paris. We went back to California twice so she could experience the west coast and the land of her birth, experiencing whale watching with cousin Russell.

Kelly was dedicated to family, always enjoying gatherings with our fun filled clan. Barbeques at Ann and Rick’s with cousins Jordan and Ryan who is her Godson; City adventures with Frank, Scott, Holden and Zoe; Weekend trips to Maryland with Aunt Tina, Uncle Mike, Kate and Gordon where we could hop into DC for Cherry Blossom time or find shark’s teeth on the beach. New Year’s Eve parties in Great Neck at the McKenzie house were always a blast. Rochester time with Aunt Mare and Uncle Kevin, then the Florida trips with them to escape the cold were always spoil fests!  Our journeys together here have ended too soon but I know she will be with me in spirit and I will continue to honor her by forging new adventures with her in my heart. Kelly carried her medical burdens quietly and with grace. I will continue to support the charities that meant a lot to Kelly and invite others to do the same. Type 1 Diabetes began when she was 12, and we continue to support the JDRF; Dermatomyosistis took hold in 2004, followed by Rheumatoid Arthritis and the latest diagnosis of Sarcoidosis. Some of the other foundations we will continue to support are the Myositis Association and stopsarcoidosis.org.  Kelly also believed in helping animals and supported the ASPCA and Pitbulls & Parolees. Any donations made in memory of Kelly will be greatly appreciated. Please keep her memory alive in your heart and we know Kelly will never be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: 

JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) 532 Broadhollow Road, Suite 118,  Melville, NY 11747

or

Myositis Association 1737 King Street, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22314

or

ASPCA.org

stopsarcoidosis.org

nyc.jdrf.org