Kelly Shea was a remarkable woman whose life was defined by warmth, strength, curiosity, intelligence, and an extraordinary devotion to her communities and the people she loved. She was a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend whose presence made a lasting difference in the lives of those fortunate enough to know her.
As a child of immigrants, Kelly’s experience growing up as an Asian American woman with resilient and hard-working parents impacted the path she chose for herself. She graduated from Barnard College with her Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies, spent a year as one of the first cohorts of American students to study in Beijing, earned an advanced degree in Modern Chinese History at Beijing University, and went on to earn her Master’s in International Relations from American University. At American University, she helped to write a book on Chinese history and met her husband, Tim. Following her studies, she worked at a think tank in Washington, DC, and also for the US China Business Council. She then went on to build a long and successful 25-year career at Lockheed Martin, where she led business development across Asia. Kelly led a politically active life defined by her commitment to values of care and compassion for others.
Kelly’s greatest accomplishments were the relationships she built. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother. Her family was at the center of her life, and she took great pride in her children. She gave them not only her love, but also the example of a woman who valued education, independence, and perseverance. Even while working full-time and for seven years working in a different state, she was ever present at swim meets or tennis matches. She was always experimenting with a new recipe for the family to enjoy, cooking the family classic sesame noodles, or baking cookies just because. Kelly also made time for passing on important lessons to her children, volunteering with them at local community centres.
Even after retiring early in 2015 and being diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s in 2016, Kelly continued her culture of hard work, service to others, and perseverance by completing two half marathons and continuing to volunteer, teaching English while she still could. While Early Onset Alzheimer’s changed many aspects of her later years, it does not define who Kelly was or the life she lived. The Kelly her loved ones remember is the woman who built a career, pursued her education, raised a family, maintained deep friendships, and brought her own strength and character to everything she did.
Kelly leaves behind her husband, Tim; her daughters, Meaghan (Zach) and Mairin (Andrew); her son, Colin; her brothers, Paul (Susan) Ho, MD, James (Katy) Ho, and Tonny (June) Ho; extended family, and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Kelly’s memory to Hilarity for Charity (HFC), which provides resources, education, and support for families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease, or to the Jewish Association on Aging (JAA), where Kelly resided in her final years. The JAA provides comprehensive services designed to keep seniors safe, independent, and connected to the community.
We hope these gifts will honor Kelly’s memory by helping other families who are walking a similar path.
The service will be held Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 10 a.m. at Homewood Cemetery Chapel, 1599 South Dallas Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15217.
