Beloved, missed, stolen, compassionate, unforgettable
If you were strolling around Adams, Massachusetts, in the mid-1990s, you might have seen a little Buzz Lightyear tearing around the streets. Or a lion, depending on the day. That was Kelsey Lyn Guettler. She was a shy kid, but stubborn and creative. She refused to relinquish her new favorite outfits, even after trick-or-treating season was weeks in the past. Scared of Santa, the Easter Bunny, and clowns, Kelsey found solace in Disney characters, her pink blanket, and sucking her thumb. She was a late bloomer, but a happy kid.
Drawn to the arts, Kelsey loved sketching, dancing, painting, and music from a young age. She also swam and played lacrosse, going on to become a certified lifeguard at the YMCA and captain of the lacrosse team in high school. She graduated from Hoosac Valley High School in 2012.
Kelsey’s instinct to care for others and spread kindness informed her life. She worked in home health care as a certified nursing assistant and behavioral specialist at Hillcrest Commons. Family-oriented, Kelsey was close with her sister, Kimberlee; her mother, Deanna; her father, Dick; and her cousin Tyler. She adored her two sweet sons, Declan and Garret. In her free time, she collected gemstones, listened to music, read horoscopes, and doted on her cats.
Kelsey’s father remembers her for her contagious laugh and frequent phone calls. Kelsey never missed an opportunity to tell him she loved him and appreciated his help.
Not one to express negative feelings, her loved ones remember her unfaltering positivity, kindness, and caring nature.
The Christmas before Kelsey’s passing, she found the Elf on the Shelf during the annual family hunt. Dick remembers a last lunch with her, nothing too out of the ordinary; she was struggling with the Registry of Motor Vehicles and her license. Her deeper personal struggles were virtually invisible to her loved ones.
Substance use made Kelsey more withdrawn. Her behavior and moods were more erratic, and her decision-making skills were altered, but she maintained her positive outward nature. Despite Kelsey’s efforts to shield her loved ones, they were constantly worried about losing her, in fearful anticipation of phone calls bearing bad news.
Kelsey’s absence is felt in countless ways. Her family remembers her smile and laugh, warm presence, and the sweet girl who ran around in her Buzz Lightyear costume.
Kelsey’s father, Dick Guettler, provided the information for this narrative.
March 29, 1994-April 5, 2023-Age 29
Portrait Artist: Clayton Conner
Narrative Writer: Livia Cohen
