Kelly M. DeZalia

North Hudson; Kelly M. DeZalia 49, passed away Thursday August 10, 2017 at his home with his loving family by his side.
Kelly was born February 17 1968 in Ticonderoga, NY the youngest son of the late Donald Sr. and Rita Milligan DeZalia.
Kelly graduated from Schroon Lake Central School class of 1986. He immediately went to work at the family business, DeZalia's Garage in Severance, NY. He worked along with his dad and Brothers, Brent and Brian. Anyone visiting the shop knew he meant business; work hard until your day is done. The thought was who needs a "lift" when we've got our muscle, Kelly. After 25 years of fixing the cars of the North Country, he longed for new challenges.
Kelly ran for public office twice, both times for the seat as North Hudson Highway Superintendent, losing each race by only a couple of votes. That didn't detour him from taking a position as an HEO for the Town of North Hudson Highway Dept. in Jan of 2011. It meant learning all new skills. He did that in little time and he did it well.
In Sept. of 2011, Kelly was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic colon cancer. The prognosis was grim but he took the challenge and ran with it full force. He underwent many surgeries, hundreds of chemotherapy sessions, radiation and immunotherapy. When Dr. G and Dr. K gave him the next option, there was no question- he was doing it no matter what. His strength and perseverance was staggering beyond comprehension. He continued to work full time on the Town Highway crew until March 2015, when it became just to hard to continue work while undergoing treatment.
Kelly was always one you could call if you needed something fixed, lifted, or moved. He took many motorists from North Hudson to Schroon Lake to get gas, when telling him they were almost empty. He was one you could count on no matter what you needed help with.
He loved spending time with family and friends, whether it be camping, kayaking, hiking, vacationing, or just hanging by a campfire, all of which included throwing back a couple of beers. He loved fast and "clean" cars. Every day was a car cleaning day. He enjoyed the days past when he was called Coach Kelly for the SL/NH Red Sox undefeated little league team.
Kelly was most in his glory watching his son Jordan and daughter Miranda play in their various sporting events. He was their biggest fan. He was always so proud of all of their many accomplishments and he made sure that they knew it. His children were everything to him.
Kelly is survived by his loving wife of almost 27 years, Stephanie (Bowers) DeZalia, his daughter Miranda DeZalia (future son-in-law Cole Goddor), his son Jordan DeZalia (friend Kali Lafountain), his mother Rita (Milligan) DeZalia, his brothers Donald W. Jr., Jeffrey (Caroline) , Bradley (Dorothy) , Brian (Laurie) and Brent(Lisa) DeZalia, his Mother and Father-in-law Edna and Stephen Bowers, his sister and brother-in-law Tina and William Plumstead, his sister-in-law Bridgette Bowers, his aunts, uncles and many nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday August 15, 2017 at 12:00 noon at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Schroon Lake; interment will follow at the Schroon River Catholic Cemetery.
Friends may call at the church from 10:00 AM until noon.


In Lieu of Flowers the family suggests memorials take the form of donations to the American Cancer Society by way of Kelly's Relay for Life Team -5-FU to Cancer . Please find his page at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/kellydezalia.