PORT BYRON - Though Kelly Green Lipiska lost her long battle with leukemia, her memory will live on through a scholarship fund that will be awarded to two high school seniors each year.
Friends and family filled the American Legion Post No. 257 in Port Byron Saturday afternoon for a scholarship benefit fund in Kelly's honor.
“Kelly was just a wonderful person,” said Taffy Bowen, one of the benefit coordinators and good friend of Kelly. “She was a good friend to everyone and we wanted to do something as a community to honor her memory.”
Bowen, along with Debbie Dennis and Angie Hargreave, began planning the event shortly after Kelly's death in March 2006.
The two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to Port Byron High school students at the Port Byron Alumni Association annual banquet next week.
Scholarship winners were chosen by essays the students had submitted to the Alumni Association, stating their long range goals in life and why they would be the proper recipient of the award.
“She handled her battle with leukemia courageously,” Bowen said. “She put up one hell of a fight.”
Kelly left behind her husband, Tom, and children Thomas, 7, and Miranda Jade, 6.
The family has felt her absence but are getting along OK, Tom said.
Kelly's parents, Marty and Roberta Green, are the owners of The Port Byron Shopping Guide, in which Kelly had a weekly column titled, Kelly's Korner.
“Everyone just looked forward to her column,” Bowen said. “She was just so good at remembering people's birthdays and anniversaries. She always included little things like that in her column.”
Bowen said that Kelly was especially fond of local senior citizens.
“She always remembered their meetings and other things that they were planning,” she said. “They were so special to her.” To do their share of helping with the benefit, Bowen said that the local senior citizen group baked and donated quite a few dozen cookies to the benefit.
The benefit was emceed by Art Wenzel, and music donated by Jane Stebbins.
“This community, as well as many other communities, have lent their support in so many ways,” Bowen said.
“It is great to know that we can all come together for such a wonderful cause.”
The benefit included a chicken barbecue, donated by Bomber Bristol, of Bombers 5-minute lunch in Weedsport.
Many raffles and door prizes were donated by area residents and businesses.
The group hopes to continue the scholarship benefit annually.
“It is such a wonderful way for the community as a whole to memorialize such a wonderful woman,” Bowen said.
“Kelly was just a wonderful person,” said Taffy Bowen, one of the benefit coordinators and good friend of Kelly. “She was a good friend to everyone and we wanted to do something as a community to honor her memory.”
Bowen, along with Debbie Dennis and Angie Hargreave, began planning the event shortly after Kelly's death in March 2006.
The two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to Port Byron High school students at the Port Byron Alumni Association annual banquet next week.
Scholarship winners were chosen by essays the students had submitted to the Alumni Association, stating their long range goals in life and why they would be the proper recipient of the award.
“She handled her battle with leukemia courageously,” Bowen said. “She put up one hell of a fight.”
Kelly left behind her husband, Tom, and children Thomas, 7, and Miranda Jade, 6.
The family has felt her absence but are getting along OK, Tom said.
Kelly's parents, Marty and Roberta Green, are the owners of The Port Byron Shopping Guide, in which Kelly had a weekly column titled, Kelly's Korner.
“Everyone just looked forward to her column,” Bowen said. “She was just so good at remembering people's birthdays and anniversaries. She always included little things like that in her column.”
Bowen said that Kelly was especially fond of local senior citizens.
“She always remembered their meetings and other things that they were planning,” she said. “They were so special to her.” To do their share of helping with the benefit, Bowen said that the local senior citizen group baked and donated quite a few dozen cookies to the benefit.
The benefit was emceed by Art Wenzel, and music donated by Jane Stebbins.
“This community, as well as many other communities, have lent their support in so many ways,” Bowen said.
“It is great to know that we can all come together for such a wonderful cause.”
The benefit included a chicken barbecue, donated by Bomber Bristol, of Bombers 5-minute lunch in Weedsport.
Many raffles and door prizes were donated by area residents and businesses.
The group hopes to continue the scholarship benefit annually.
“It is such a wonderful way for the community as a whole to memorialize such a wonderful woman,” Bowen said.
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