February 19,1943 – January 11, 2015
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a true “Gentle Man”. On Sunday, January 11, 2015, Kelly made his sacred journey to the arms of his Lord and Saviour. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Claudia PARISH and his two daughters, Marina Rosta (Manville Alta.) and Kellianne Stiller (Phil) of Nanaimo BC. Kelly was surrounded by his wife, daughters, 
son-in-law (Phil) and his sister-in-law, Maureen Parish. His passing was gentle in a way that reflected the way he lived his life. Leaving to mourn in Medicine Hat, Alta. are Kelly’s sister, Shirley Hart (Dave) and his brother, Garry Folk, (Marion). Kelly was a loving grandad to Geza, Killian, Liam and Saoirse Rosta, Andrew and Jessie Stiller and Taylor-Lee Stiller-O’Brien. He also leaves behind many nephews and nieces and his loving goddaughter/niece, Claudia Danyluk.
Kelly was born in Leader, Saskatchewan and spent his early years on the family farm near Richmound before his family moved to Medicine Hat where he completed high school. He joined the RCMP in 1962 and retired at the rank of Superintendent after 34 years of service in the Force. During his career, Kelly received a BA (Economics) degree from UVic and held a variety of administrative and Criminal Investigation positions across Canada. Those positions included Officer in Charge of Administration, Personnel, Finance and Informatics for the NWT. He was also the Officer in Charge of the Inuvik Subdivision before he returned to BC. Once back in BC, Kelly, served as the Officer in command of the ERT section and prior to retiring, he was the Officer in Charge of the RCMP’s Internal Audit. Kelly and Claudia also enjoyed many memorable occasions at BC’s Government House during Kelly’s position as Aide de Camp to Lieutenant-Governor, David Lam. He also served a term as president for the Greater Victoria United Way. In 1994, Kelly led the Police Security Operations for the Commonwealth Games. After his retirement, Kelly was a Special Investigator for Elections Canada for 8 years, and was also president of the Greater Victoria Police Chorus and the Greater Victoria RCMP Retired Officers’ Mess. He also was one of the first Officers to head up the Integrated Road Safety Unit for Vancouver Island. At the time of Kelly’s passing, he was an active member on the Board of Directors (Finance Committee), of the Capital Region Emergency Service Telecommunications (CREST). Kelly was skillfully treated by Drs. Herb Domke, Stephen Lundy, Paul Blood and Gary Dewar, during his illness and the family is grateful. We would also like to extend a special thank you to the Nursing staff at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital, Palliative Care Unit, with a special mention to Dr Andrea Lewis.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 20, 2015. Flowers gratefully declined. Please donate to a charity of choice. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
41 Responses
You are amazing, Uncle Kelly. We have been very fortunate to learn from you. Surround yourself with good people, always be kind, and do unto others… you brought much peace to this world. Love you bunches.
Auntie Claudia, Kellianne, and Marina, we are so sorry for your loss. Love you all so much.
Our condolences to Kelly’s family and his sister and brother, Shirley and Garry. We pray the loving arms of God will comfort Kelly’s family during this time of their grief. It is always hard to say goodbye to a loved one so instead we will
say “see you later Kelly”.
Your cousins,
Konrad, Dina, Dorothy, Rose, Shirley and Marlene
sending deepest condolences to Claudia and family from David and Leila Baxter
Both Pat & I who were very privileged to have known Kelly since Regina in 1962 and again in Prince Rupert in the mid sixties, wanted you to know how deeply saddened we are on your loss.. We were proud to call him a friend and we will miss him very much. We have lost one of the kindest and gentlest people we have ever had the privilege to know. Please know how much we share your grief. You have our heartfelt sympathy, Allan & Pat de St Remy
We were saddened to learn of Kelly’s passing & wish to express our sincere sympathy to you, Claudia & your family. We go back a long time, all the way to Rupert when we were first introduced. He contributed so much & will be dearly missed.
Rest in peace Kelly.
Claudia, Marina, Kellianne xo and family
Wishing you peace to bring comfort –
Courage to face the days ahead –
Loving memories to forever hold in your hearts.
Claudia and family. I just learned of Kelly’s passing and had no idea he had been ill. I am so sorry for the great void this will leave in all your lives.
I read the word “gentleman” so many times in the condolences left by others and it so aptly describes this man! He was my late husband, Don’s, supervisor during the Commonwealth Games security planning prior to the games in 1994 and Don had the utmost respect and caring for Kelly. As a member of the RCMP myself at West Shore Detachment I recall Kelly’s quiet yet professional demeanour – always – and how well respected he was by everyone I worked with.
What a dear man has left us. I hope you – his family – will find strength in knowing he will always be at their side. I truly believe this.
Barb Alexander
(retired RCMP)
I didn’t know Him. He seems like he was a great person , Father and Husband. He raised a wonderful girl Marina, who I was fortunate to meet on a trip to Mexico.I can tell she loves and cared for you deeply.
To your family, Hold all the great Memory’s close to your heart. Those you will have for ever. I’m so sorry for your loss.
I am saddened to hear of your loss, time will heal. Think of beautiful things like the boat ride you had on Babine with
Daniel and I.
I am saddened at hearing of your great loss, Claudia. It has been several years since I saw you in our days nursing at JBL but I do remember the supper time discussions about your life with Kelly. The written notice is a great tribute to the man you love. You are in my thoughts at this difficult time.
Ruth Marshall