Kelly Rose Cortesi

May 30, 1992 - July 23, 2008

I wrote earlier this year about my grandfather's passing and how I was unable to make it to the funeral. His death hurt but was expected because of his health and age. He lived a long and full life. The tragedy of loosing my younger cousin last week is still, and will remain for some time, a complete shock.

My family received the call of the accident on Sunday, July 20th. A half a day had not even passed and I was on a plane from Portland to New York to be there for her at the hospital. She spent several days in the hospital on assisted breathing allowing family and many friends to come buy to wish her well. The hospital was wonderful in the care they gave Kelly, her family and friends.

However her injuries were few but great.

A beautiful wake was held on Friday where several hundred mourners came to pay their respects. A celebration of her life was held on Saturday with slides and prints and stories and song were all dedicated to the spirit of Kelly's short but wonderful life.

Below is her obituary as published on July 26th at LoHud.com, New York's Lower Hudson News.

Kelly Rose Cortesi, an athlete, musician, dancer and honor roll student, died Wednesday following a fall from a cliff in Bear Mountain State Park. She was 16. At Putnam Valley High School, where she was to be a junior in September, Kelly was known for her hearty laugh and her ability to forge strong friendships. She played oboe in the high school band and studied piano for several years. She played on the Putnam Valley High School field hockey team and was a runner and hurdler on the Putnam Valley High School track team. She participated in the YMCA Camp Combe leadership club where she was a counselor this summer as well as a junior counselor last summer. She had also obtained her life guard certification for use at the camp. She was an avid Irish step dancer, having studied and performed since she was six, most recently with the Kelly-Oster School of Irish Dance in Brewster. She also had a keen interest in outdoor activities such as hiking, back-packing, snow and water skiing, and bicycling. She is survived by her parents, Mary and Allan Cortesi, both of Putnam Valley; her brother, Kyle; her grandparents Yvonne and Charles Cortesi of Red Hook, NY, and Ginny and Herb Herbig of Yellow Bay, MT, as well as a plethora of aunts, uncles and cousins. A wake will be held Friday July 25 from 2 to 9 PM at Heritage Funeral Home, 35 Morrissey Dr, Putnam Valley. In lieu of flowers, the family plans to set up a scholarship fund in memory of Kelly.

A celebration of her life...a tribute to her spirit.

A special Thank You to all those who helped the family out during this past week.