San Rafael

Dianne Mary Kelly of San Rafael, CA, in a final ode to her Irish heritage, passed away peacefully at home on Saint Patrick's Day, March 17, 2025. She was 78. Dianne was born to native residents Stanley A. Kelly and Betty Baumgartner Kelly on August 24,1946. In her twenties, she moved to New York City, and while starting her own catering business, she continued her education, earning her BA degree from Douglas College at Rutgers University, followed by a Master's Degree in Social Work from Rutgers-New Brunswick. In 1975, she married T. Michael Forney and helped raise her two stepsons, Michael and David Forney.

In mid-life, after divorcing, Dianne returned to the Bay Area to settle in San Rafael, where she continued to work as a social worker for the County of Marin Department of Health and Human Services. She retired in 2019. Dianne is survived by her adoring stepson, Michael Forney, her numerous Kelly Family cousins, and Kelly Saenz of Carpenteria, many close friends, extended family members, colleagues, neighbors, and also by her discerning feline companion, Sweetie Pie. She was preceded in death by her parents, her stepson David, and her beloved sister, Katie Kelly.

Dianne remains in our hearts as a witty, generous host and gifted culinarian; a life-long voracious reader and animal lover; a thoughtful world traveler and committed patron of the arts. Also, by her own admission, she never met a potato she didn't like.

Athank-you to By the Bay Hospice and all the people who cared for Dianne these last few months.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Marin Humane Society or the San Francisco/Marin Food Bank. A celebration of Dianne's life will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 1 p.m. at The Clubhouse at Peacock Gap, 333 Biscayne Drive, San Rafael, CA. RSVP to Carol Lucchese at j.bowsher@sbcglobal.net