Saliann ‘Sal’ Kelly Siwulec

Saliann “Sal” Kelly Siwulec lived a beautiful, loving and creative life. Sadly, she passed away on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017 in Morristown, New Jersey, from complications related to a long battle with sinus cancer.

Sal chose to live each day to the fullest, and faced her illness with extraordinary strength and courage. Sal was on the East Coast to see her daughter Claire’s dance performance at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and to celebrate Thanksgiving with Claire, her parents, siblings, nieces and nephews in Morristown.

Sal’s brilliant smile was contagious. She was an amazing person whose kindness, optimism and humor touched everyone she met. Sal was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 6, 1956, where her dad was stationed in the Navy.

After growing up in Michigan, she attended the University of Arizona in Tucson where she graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts. After graduating, she moved to California where she met and married her beloved husband, Dan.

They were blessed with one daughter, Claire, who was the light of Sal’s life. Sal, Dan and Claire lived in Pacific Palisades during the school year and during the summer months lived in Good Hart, Michigan.

Sal lived with her family in the Palisades for the past 17 years and was a gifted arts educator. For over a decade, every student who attended Palisades Charter Elementary School experienced art residencies with Sal as a teacher of Art Cadre.

Sal also worked for the nonprofit, Art Trek, bringing art education to underserved classrooms.

Sal’s creativity extended into everything she did: building sets for Claire’s dance studio, teaching art “classes” and art parties to neighbors and to her many nieces and nephews, and teaching workshops at Three Pines Studio in Cross Village, Michigan. Her entire garage is overflowing with her many art projects and supplies.

Sal was a loving mother, spouse, daughter, sister and friend. She is survived by Dan, Claire, her parents, Ann Kelly of Birmingham, Michigan, and Tom Kelly of Atlanta, Georgia. She is also survived by her loving siblings and their spouses, Clay and Elaine Kelly of Birmingham, Michigan, Beth and Ralph Richardson of Mission Hills, Kansas, Gordon and Karen Kelly of Fort Worth, Texas, and Molly and Mike Servais of Morristown, New Jersey; her adored nieces and nephews, Kelly, Katy, Connor, Eliza, Elliot, Anna, Sam, Ryan and Maggie; and many incredible friends, all of whom were given the gift of Sal in their lives.

A service celebrating Sal’s life will be held at the Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 2 p.m. with a reception immediately following. Please do not wear black to the service, the family wishes to celebrate Sal’s life with vibrant colors that she loved. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Art Trek at arttrek.org/sals-memorial-fund.