Kelly Bryant Obituary

A beautiful journey ended on July 29, 2025, as our beloved daughter and sister passed from her Earthly life. Kelly Marie Bryant, age 37, was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin to Jeffrey Bryant and Sharon (Bornheimer) Bryant on October 17, 1987. Kelly was challenged with a lifelong metabolic condition, Nephropathic Cystinosis, requiring daily medications and a kidney transplant on February 27, 2024. Kelly lived in North Carolina for the past 10 years. An aggressive lymphatic cancer which was a complication of being on immunosuppressant medications required to prevent rejection of her kidney transplant was diagnosed during July 2025. Her diagnosis and first infusion came too late to provide Kelly with any chance of continued cancer treatment and survival. With her parents at her side, Kelly passed away at the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Health challenges did not define Kelly, and she always strived to do her best. Kelly was kind, thoughtful, humble, honest and lived a meaningful life while accomplishing many goals. Kelly grew up in La Crosse attending Cathedral School, Longfellow Middle School and graduating from Central High School, Class of 2006. Kelly graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in English, emphasis in Creative Writing with a minor in International Studies in 2010. While at UW-RF, Kelly joyfully participated in the Wisconsin in Scotland study abroad experience in Dalkeith, Scotland.

Kelly completed a Master of Arts in Leadership in Student Affairs from the University of St. Thomas in 2014. In May 2025, Kelly completed her second graduate degree in Library Science through North Carolina Central University. Incredibly, Kelly was in London for a library study abroad experience from June 15-29, 2025, and was able to tour the British Library, Oxford University, Bath, Tower of London, Greenwich Caird Library, and Stonehenge.

Always demonstrating a strong work ethic, Kelly was employed full-time for the past eight years at the Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, North Carolina. She was dedicated to her position as Assistant Librarian and Marketing & Communications Manager. Kelly worked in a very nurturing environment with colleagues that truly loved and supported her. A Memorial Service was held at the seminary on August 26 with many beautiful tributes shared recognizing Kelly's kindness, quiet strength and deep faith in God. Kelly's faith was her compass, and she was a faithful servant.

Kelly loved her family, her two cats, Simba and Nala; family vacations, nature, feeding her backyard birds and stray animals; everything Scottish and British, wearing scarves, music, reading, traveling, Colonial Williamsburg and the color, blue.

Surviving Kelly are her parents, Jeff and Sharon Bryant; sister, Lauren Bryant; aunt and uncle, Pam and Jim Curtis; uncle, Martin Bornheimer; cousins, Heath Bornheimer and Matthew (Bethany) Bornheimer.

Kelly was preceded by her paternal grandparents, Jerome and Delores (Dushenski) Bryant and her maternal grandparents, Louis and Mary Ann (Kelly) Bornheimer.

Kelly was, is, and will always be a GIFT to us all. Blessed be her Memory.

Memorials are preferred to the Cystinosis Research Foundation https://www.cystinosisresearch.org/ or to an organization of your choice.

Kelly was baptized at Roncalli Newman Catholic Church attending church with her parents and sister. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Roncalli Newman on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, with Father Billy Dodge officiating. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., with Mass at 11:00 a.m. and followed by a luncheon at the church. Roncalli Newman is in La Crosse at 1732 State Street. PLEASE NOTE: Due to a recent change in parking accommodations, there is NO AVAILABLE PARKING adjacent to Roncalli Newman. Guests are asked to park on city streets or utilize a provided shuttle service. If using the shuttle service, please park at the corner of Losey Boulevard and King Street on the black top lot and by the fenced area. The GO Riteway shuttle van will transport from 9:30 to10:45 a.m. to Roncalli Newman and will begin return departures to Losey Boulevard and King Street between 12:30 to 2:20 p.m.