Sara A. Kelley, 90, of Effingham, Illinois, formerly of Olney, Illinois, passed away March 17, 2023 at her home in Effingham.

Sara Ann, daughter of Mary Veronica (Gilligan) and Henry Homrighausen was born in East St. Louis, Illinois on October 6, 1932. She had two brothers, Jack (JoAnn) and Bill (Joan). She grew up in Belleville, Illinois, where she completed her primary and high school education. She then entered Saint John’s Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis, Mo, graduating as a Registered Nurse. She later completed her BS degree from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine.

She was married to Rodrick "Rod" Kelley, of Hillsboro, IL, on October 3, 1953 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Belleville, IL. They lived briefly in Saint Louis before moving to Olney, IL, where they resided for 69 years.

Her proudest achievement was raising her 7 children, all of whom graduated from college: Joe (Cheryl) Kelley, of Fairfield Glade, TN; Mary (P.B.) Finley, of Newton, IL; John (Patty) Kelley of Unionville, IN; Patty Beagle, of New Harmony, IN; Maura (Brad) Voyles of Effingham, IL; Tom (Molly) Kelley, of Philo, IL; Jim (fiancée Mindy Henton) Kelley, of Effingham, IL; She and Rod have 16 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren, as well as their many nieces and nephews.

Sara was preceded in death by parents; brothers and sister-in-laws; their youngest son Jim, a grandchild and 3 great grandchildren.

Sara worked as a Registered Nurse at Richland Memorial Hospital, and a consulting nurse for Sunset Manor in Olney. She was very active in St. Joseph’s Parish in Olney. She was the first woman to serve on St. Joseph’s school board. Sara was a tutor in the school, a eucharistic minister in the church, a volunteer at Good Samaritan and Birthright. She was active in music boosters and East Richland High School. Sara received the Southern Illinois Association of Priests recognition for fidelity, integrity, service and humanity in the Belleville diocese. She was also the 1978 recipient of the WVLN Community Service Award for outstanding community service.

Sara will be deeply missed by the many whose lives she touched.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 25th St. Joseph Catholic Church in Olney, with a visitation beginning an hour and a half prior to service time at the church.

Interment will follow the service at St. Joseph Cemetery in Olney, IL

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Joseph’s School Foundation or HSHS Hospice.

Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home in Olney, IL will be handling the arrangements.