Beth DeKnight Kelliher, 70, of Franklin, passed away on Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Milford Regional Medical Center. She is survived by her devoted husband of 38 years Charlie Kelliher; her son Major Sean Kelliher, his wife Molly, and their children Elliette, Cole, Bryce, and Blake of Fort Leavenworth, KS; her daughter Kathleen Kelliher of Franklin; and her beloved cat Poppy. She is also survived by her brother William DeKnight II and his husband Eldon of Traer, KS; her brother Brad DeKnight and his wife Michele of Port Orange, FL; her brother David DeKnight and his wife Vicky of Paris, TX; her nieces and nephews; her many dear friends especially Nancy and Mark Kolligian of Franklin and Ann and Ben Judge of South Hadley; and her best friend Karen and her wife Kelly of Oakland, CA. She was predeceased by her parents William and Sheila DeKnight and her brother Bobby DeKnight.
Beth was born March 6, 1951 in McCook, NE. She was raised in Oberlin, KS and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1969. She was active in student government and many other student activities, especially the speech and debate club.
After leaving Oberlin to attend Washburn University in Topeka, KS, Beth graduated with a degree in Nursing. She spent a year at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka before moving to New England, where she was a camp nurse in the Berkshires. Beth then moved to Boston and started her 45-year career at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She worked in the kidney transplant unit for several years before finding her true calling in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The close-knit community of NICU nurses provided support to Beth for over 35 years, and there were few things Beth loved more than holding a preemie baby in her arms.
Beth was admired by many for her sense of adventure. After moving cross country at the age of 22, and undertaking a solo bike trip for 6 months throughout the UK at 27, a love of travel remained close to her heart: during her lifetime, Beth traveled to 46 states and 19 countries. In more recent years she enjoyed visiting her son Sean wherever he was stationed with the Air Force, exploring Turkey and Europe multiple times as well as road tripping across the country.
Beth was an avid fan of the New England Revolution soccer team since its founding in 1994. She was also an insatiable reader who enjoyed a variety of genres but especially gravitated toward history, romance, the works of Edgar Allan Poe, and anything related to the bubonic plague. She loved flowers and was especially proud of her wildflower garden at her home in Franklin. While she had many interests, Beth’s greatest passion was her family. She spent many years as Den Leader and Troop Leader for her children’s scouting troops bringing crafts, activities, and camping trips into their lives. Beth especially enjoyed crafts with her children, nieces, and nephews when they were young and more recently with her grandchildren.
There will be a celebration of Beth’s life on August 5, 2021 on Cape Cod, where she made many great memories with her family. Memorial gifts can be made online at Tribute and Memorial Giving - Brigham and Women's Hospital or checks can be made payable to Brigham and Women's Hospital with "in memory of Beth Kelliher" in the memo line and sent to: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Development Office, 116 Huntington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116.