Shelby Christine DePrisco

Shelby Christine Kennedy DePrisco, aged 49, passed away at the Jane Phillips Hospital in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on February 1 after a two year battle with cancer. Shelby was born on August 11, 1967 in Milford, Delaware-- the daughter of Janet Kennedy and Donald Messick. She graduated from the University of Delaware and received her Masters in Business at Wilmington University. She was wife to James A. DePrisco, married September 22, 1990, and was mother to five children: Adrienne Virginia, Kyle Robert, Elyse Katherine, Lance Michael, and Marie Genevieve. Shelby is survived by her brothers Harvey R. Johnson and Donald J. Messick and sisters Sarah E. Smith and Kate Abreu. Shelby was primarily a woman of God. From her love of the Traditional Latin Mass to her devotion to the rosary, Shelby’s unwavering belief in Christ was made tangible in the joy and compassion that she radiated. As the heart of her family, her commitment to her Catholic faith set the tone for domestic life-- a life marked by love. Shelby was also an artist and she used her talents to bring beauty into the world where it had not existed before. She had an eye for detail, which she used while quilting, knitting, growing flowers around her home, cooking, and helping her children with last-minute school projects. She also took delight in history and was a member of the Col. David Hall Chapter, NSDAR. In addition to her faith and her cultivation of beauty, Shelby had an adventurous heart and an openness to life’s many experiences. She moved with her family to six different states and even lived overseas in Aruba for six years. She enjoyed kayaking and camping; she handled the unexpected with grace and good humor. As such, she served as a support for innumerable individuals throughout her life. Her influence will not be forgotten. One could not meet Shelby without recognizing her boundless charity and her abundant excitement for life. She will continue to be an inspiration for those blessed enough to have met her. Her funeral Requiem Mass will be held at St. John’s Catholic Church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on Tuesday, February 7 at 10:30 a.m. Her interment will be held at Bethel Cemetery in Lewes, Delaware at a later date-- Lewes being home and a place she loved to return to. In lieu of flowers, one is encouraged to send a donation to Clear Creek Monastery in Shelby’s memory.

Shelby Christine DePrisco

August 11, 1967 - February 1, 2017