Dawn Kelly
At the young age of 44 in the early morning hours of October 24, 2025 Dawn quietly slipped from the mortal plane to join the stars.
Waiting to embrace her on the other side are her dad Dan Robitaille and her first love Amber Arbic. Left to feel her presence and keep her memory alive are her loving wife Melissa, their children Rayne, Alex (Mia), Taylor, Joey (Nat), and Tierney, and their grandchildren Cameron, Sterling, Kristopher, Abbigail, Flynn-Hudson, and Viola, her brothers Ricky (Ros), Mark (Josee) nephew Liam, and Mother Cathy.
Dawn overcame a young life of struggle to graduate high school in Mattawa and join the Canadian Armed Forces where she served in the Army Infantry Algonquin Regiment.
After service Dawn pursued her higher education, first as an International Protection Officer, and later as a mechanic and an RV Technician. Dawn’s thirst for knowledge and quest for justice was ever present, she had applied for and been accepted into Canadore’s Social Service Worker program. Her wish was to turn her journey with Acute Myeloid Leukemia into a career of clinical patient advocacy. Dawn joked she was “just a jill of all trades and just an average joe”, but in truth she was never “just” anything, she had the brightest mind combined with the most amazing spirit.
Dawn had a combination of book smarts, street smarts, common sense, and a hands-on approach that is rarely seen. There was nothing she couldn’t do or fix “If I can’t get it off with leverage, I’ll make it liquid!” Over the years her loyalty, dedication, and hard work graced Sick Kids’ Hospital, Carlson’s Sports, and CarQuest to name just a few.
Generous, intelligent, beautiful, kind, and loving she easily made friends for life in her many jobs and wherever she went. This habit led to the phrase “she collects people like Pokemon” and many a quick trip to the store turned into hours of conversation bumping into everyone she knew.
Dawn was a fearless warrior who lived her life out loud as a proud lesbian, she fought for marriage equality in the 90s and finally found her own happiness in marriage in 2022. Her great passions included her pets, especially Cooper her service dog and constant companion, hunting, and being in Nature with the Great Creator.
Dawn loved and was loved beyond words and imagining, and although her time here was short her loss will be deeply felt by her family and all who had the pleasure of knowing her forever. Dawn was and is irreplaceable.
Special thanks to Phil and Judy, David and Tina, Star and Paul, Andrea and Raymond, Sam, Steph, Krystie, and the rest of Dawn’s “chosen family”, the wonderful nurses of 4 North Oncology at HSN Sudbury, Dr Desmarais, Dr Jackson, Dr Jinnah, Nipissing Serenity Hospice, and my fellow nurses and friends at NBRHC. “You continue to be my heart, my soul, my universe, my love, my darling, my beautiful, sweet girl.
I will love and miss you more forever my Mrs Kelly”- Your Melly
In accordance with Dawn’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A private celebration of life will be held at the family home at a later date.
