Kelly Diane Thompson

There is no good time to write your sister's obituary. But that doesn't change the fact that my sister, Kelly Thompson, died on August 24, 2016. And someone must write it.

With few exceptions there were two kinds of people in Kelly's life: friends and people she had not yet met. Those in the first category will attest to this fact. Those in the second missed out. She was many things to many people. Mother. Sibling. Daughter. Yoga instructor. Advocate for women and children. Spanish speaker. Social worker. Travel companion. Band mate. Hostess. Guest. Party goer. The more capacities in which you knew her, the luckier you can count yourself.

In her 53 years, 6 months and 24 days on Earth she did many things. All of them with style and joy. She swam on the Carlisle High School swim team, not for the ribbons but the conversation. She went to college in the South, but found it oppressive and opted instead for an education in Spain. She lived, among other places, in Madrid (no, not the one in Iowa), Paris (no, not Virginia), Washington (yes, that one) and London (seriously, there's only one). But ultimately she returned to Carlisle to raise her children in the same town where she was raised. Her son, Martin, is a soccer playing freshman at Alvernia University. Her daughter, Phoebe, 12 but nearly 13, dances at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.

She loved cats and dogs and children. Her own and other peoples'. She could make the sad joyful. The proud humble. The meek brave. The ignorant enlightened. Whether they liked it or not. A memorial service will be held for her on Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 2pm at Second Presbyterian Church, 528 Garland Drive, Carlisle, PA, where she was a peacock in a production of Noah's Arc circa 1976. For my part I, Craig, was a pig in that production and our sister, Tracy, a cat. In addition to her siblings and children she is survived by her father, Dr. Robert Thompson, and mother, Nancy Thompson, both of Carlisle.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Martin and Phoebe at Thompson Trust, in care of Martson Law Offices, 10 E. High St. Carlisle, PA 17013.

Hoffman Funeral Home & Crematory, 2020 W. Trindle Road, Carlisle, PA is handling the arrangements. To sign the guestbook, please visit www.HoffmanFH.com