KELSEY TORTORELLO
Updated 7/27/03

 TRIBUTES
5/11/01

 News Articles

 Quotes from Kelsey

The Class of 2004 chose yellow as their class color as is was Kelsey's favorite and her recommendation to ASB in the fall of 2000 before her untimely death.

KELSEY'S HOUSE

2/25/04

Hello Everyone ! ! : )
Our new email address is: TortFam4@comcast.net

7/23/03 Hello Everyone !! :)

This is our last and final letter to you regarding Kelsey's House. We just
wanted to give you an update. Kelsey's House received a temporary occupancy
permit on Friday, July 11, which would have been Kelsey's 17th birthday. Melissa
and her family moved into the house on Saturday, July 19. They are so
pleased by the outcome of Kelsey's House. It turned out so beautiful…inside and out…
just like Kelsey. And Sam Vilhauer did an outstanding job guiding us all
through this project. Thank You, Sam!

A portable dishwasher was purchased for their home by using some of the
fundraising money. This dishwasher is from all of you. She wanted to thank you so
much for this needed addition to her home.

We want to extend our sincerest gratitude to all of you who were a part of
the fundraising and building of Kelsey's House. Through Kelsey's friends,
family, and Habitat for Humanity…we have met so many awesome people and have made
lasting friendships. We have grown closer to Kelsey's friends...she loved you
guys so much. Kelsey was associated with a lot of wonderful people in all
walks of her life…she was so lucky to have known you.

Again, thank you for all your help and loving support to us over the last 2
1/2 years. "Some people come into our lives and stay in our hearts forever."

Live, Love & Laugh...SMILE FOR KELSEY!

Gary, Karen and Kristin Tortorello 0: )

PS - Our home is always open to you...and there will always be a standing
invitation to come over to our house on Kelsey's birthday and her anniversary (we
will always light a candle for Kelsey at 8:30 PM at the accident site every
year) forever and ever. Keep in touch! We will always love to see you.

 

 Thanks to you and all your students for the holiday greetings to us.
We really appreciate your thinking about us.

We are doing okay, but really miss our Kelsey.
It will be a long road to healing for us.

Wishing you all a great new year in 2001.

Best Wishes,

Gary, Karen and Kristin Tortorello

I am Kelsey`s grandfather from California. I have Skyview on my computer and
follow what's happening at the school. And I also read about Kelsey and the
poems the students wrote about her. My wife and I enjoyed them very much.
Thank you for remembering her. She was dear to us very much. Again thank you.

Mr. & Mrs. R Tortorello 2/27/01

>>> <TortFam4@aol.com> 02/16/03 09:00PM >>>

Hello Everyone ! ! : )

The time has now come to build Kelsey's House! We have building permits in hand and all the county problems have been resolved at last. Recently, we met with Sam Vilhauer, Project Manager for Kelsey's House, and penciled out a tentative building schedule.

PS: The family is a single mom, Melissa, with three children. Amber is a junior in high school, Rhyne is a 8th grader, and Rachel is a 1st grader. A very nice and deserving family! They will be working on Kelsey's House a lot. If you see us working on it, please stop by to meet the family.

Thanks to you and to the students for all the kinds words and loving support as we read each card. They meant a lot to us. We have visited the tributes to Kelsey. The beautiful poems and messages from some of the students were very touching.

As we read them, it seems Kelsey's smile and kindness touched many.

Thanks so much again for your support to us and to the students at this
tragic time in our lives.

Gary, Karen and Kristin Tortorello


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 Click here for
a Message from Pastor Hannan,
copied from a bulletin handed out to students 10/18,
at a special tribute at school to Kelsey

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Kelsey Tortorello was in Dr. Questad's second period English class.
She was voted our class representative on September 15th
and died tragically in an accident on September 16, 2000.
Many of her dearest friends have Dr. Questad for Freshman English
and they have submitted cards, pictures and poems to her family.

The Tortorellos have responded with the above notes of thanks posted on this website
and Quotes from Kelsey.