Kelly (South) Chaplain died peacefully at home in Andover, in her beloved husband’s arms and with family by her side, after a four-year battle with cancer, on August 2, at the age of 57. Kelly was born in Portsmouth on July 19, 1966. After her mother died, she was raised by her father and sister in Rye and then Stratham, New Hampshire.

Kelly attended Portsmouth High School and later earned her GED. After moving to Danbury, Kelly was well known and trusted by her customers for many years as assistant manager at Aubuchon Hardware, previously Parkhurst General Store in Bristol. After moving to Andover in 2012, Kelly married her husband, Bob Chaplain, in 2017.

Kelly loved her stepchildren as her own. She was a selfless, nurturing pillar of strength who made the best school lunches and homemade pizza. She also loved and adored her step- grandchildren as her own. One of her last requests was to make sure those babies see her pictures, hear stories about her, and know who she was and how much she loved them.

Kelly had a natural green thumb; she loved tending to her flower beds and vegetable gardens. She was a tough-as-nails individual who was passionate about caring for her husband, children, and grandchildren. Kelly rescued and cared for many pets, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. Although the ocean was her favorite form of natural scenery, Kelly enjoyed all forms of nature, including birds, wildlife, and other natural scenery.

In her spare time Kelly loved reading, watching movies, cooking, baking, sewing and embroidery, photography, and day trips. In her younger years, Kelly was an avid equestrian and was looking forward to someday buying more land and having horses again. In true Kelly fashion, her last words were, “I don’t need a pill; you take a pill.”

Kelly was predeceased by her mother, Anna (Shattuck) South; her father, William South; brother, William South, Jr.; and her sister, Cheryl South. 

Surviving family members include her husband, Robert Chaplain; daughter, Amanda Dunlap; son, Jordan South; son, Adam Palmer; stepdaughter, Ashley Secinore and husband, John Secinore; stepson, Jake Chaplain and partner, Jacki Collins; stepson, Warner Chaplain and fiancee, Tiffany Sanville; grandchildren and step-grandchildren; great grandson, aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and, definitely not least of all, friends, coworkers, and customers who will miss her dearly.

A private celebration of her life will be held at a later date. To sign an online guestbook please visit www.chadwickfuneralservice.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Upper Valley Humane Society, P.O. Box 789, Lebanon, NH  03766.