GLASS, Kelli Katherine February 7, 1961 – December 24, 2009
Mother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Friend.

Kelli passed away on Christmas Eve after an incredible, courageous and inspirational battle with breast cancer, surrounded by people she loved, and who loved her deeply.

Kelli leaves to celebrate her legacy, the lights of her life, her beloved sons Dan and Sam, their dad Peter Stannard; mum and dad Pam and Cecil Glass; sister Maeve and husband Steve Wright; sister Siobhan; brother Eamonn and wife Marina; nieces and nephews Liam, Caitlin, Connor, Eilish, Ciaran, Kaja, and baby niece Katarina Kelli Glass born January 12, 2010.

Kelli is also survived by her best friend and soul mate Leslie “Barker“ Bartsch, our angel on earth Kim Blake, her soccer team, the Westside Red Devils, and many relatives and friends in Canada, the USA, and Ireland.

Kelli was born in Grace Hospital in Vancouver. As a youth she became an accomplished athlete, and held records provincially in swimming.

A graduate of Our Lady of Perpetual Help elementary school, she participated in most sports during her school years at Lord Byng Secondary, but soccer became her lifelong passion.

She played for over 25 years with Westside F.C. and was the recipient of many club wide awards. She was a referee who was in demand, and a teammate to many.

Following her diagnosis in June 2006, in true Kelli Glass fashion, she met the challenge head on.

She continued to play with the Devils throughout her treatment, refused any pity, and got on with life and living.

In the summer of 2007 Kelli, Dan and Sam embarked on a European caravan adventure, ending the trip in Ireland where she met up with Pam, Cecil, Siobhan, Caitlin and Connor at the much loved Castle Terrace in Malahide with the Harrold Clan. It was the trip of a lifetime.

When her disease progressed to the point she could no longer play the sport she loved, she continued to participate from the sidelines, supporting the Devils in any way she could.

She led the charge for four years with the Devils’ Run for the Cure Team “Devils for Kelli.” Kelli was consistently the Devils For Kelli top fundraiser, and instrumental in the Devils being the No. 1 Women’s Team at the Vancouver Run Site four years in a row.

In 2008 and 2009 Kelli was featured in an award winning CTV news feature that highlighted her battle with cancer, her eternal optimism and the fund raising efforts of the Devils For Kelli campaign. Kelli also never missed a night with the “Poker Chicks.”

The family extends heartfelt thanks to Kelli’s extraordinary caregivers Barker and Blake, as well as the staff of the Vancouver General Hospital Palliative Care Unit in the Jim Pattison Pavilion.

Special thanks go to the remarkable Dr. Wendy Yeomans, who made the journey less complicated for Kelli and family.

Kelli received tremendous support from her employer Snack Alliance (formerly known as Nalley’s). In particular, over the course of 12 years working together, Kelli developed a strong professional relationship with Mike Ricci of Snack Alliance.

Kelli inspired so many with her courage, dignity and humor as she guided us all through this battle with her. She is at peace. Her spirit shall live on with us forever.

A private family gathering was held on January 2. Please join family and friends in celebrating Kelli at “An Irish Wake” to be held on March 20 at 7 PM at the Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to devilsforkelli.com in support of the Westside Red Devils Run for the Cure Team working towards “A Future Without Breast Cancer.”

Go dtí le chéile againn arís. Until we meet again.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Just before press time we learned that Kelli’s mother Pam Glass would carry the Olympic torch in honour of her daughter on February 8 at 3:30 PM on its relay around Surrey City Hall. Pam Glass said she would carry a photograph of Kelli in her memory.]

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