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Connor Patrick Kelly, formerly of Webster, was killed while riding his motorcycle after a woman turned into his path less than a mile away from the home he shared with his fiancee in Laguna Niguel, which is about an hour north of Los Angeles, his sister Danielle Beauregard said in an interview with the Daily Voice.
His family created a GoFundMe to help his mother pay for his funeral and deal with the unexpected loss. The campaign has raised more than $12,000 of its $20,000 goal as of Tuesday, June 4.
Connor had planned to move back to Webster with his fiancee Allison Reyes after their wedding to be closer to his family as he planned to start their own.
"He had a lot ahead of him," his sister said. "He had big plans."
Connor worked as a diesel mechanic while serving with the Marines and planned to continue in that field once he was back in Massachusetts.
"He loved anything with an engine," Beauregard said. "That's where he was happiest. He was in a car club. ... He was a boy through and through."
His mother, Dianna Allen, plans to fly to California to return him to Webster as soon as the California medical examiner's office releases his body.
"She doesn't want him to fly (home) alone," Beauregard said of her mother. "She wants to be on the plane with him."
That won't be cheap, and it's a financial burden the family was not prepared to bear. That's why they've turned to crowdfunding to cover some of their expenses, even if it's something the family was reluctant to do.
It is with sadness, anger, hurt, and utter disbelief in our heart that we come forth to the community of those around us who knew him, didn’t know him, cared for him, supported him and loved him to ask for financial support. Through this fundraiser we will be using the funds to be able to pay for funeral expenses that cannot be covered by myself or his family. We would greatly appreciate any donation towards these unwarranted expenses. A dollar makes the world of a difference for myself and his family to be able to mourn peacefully without having to worry about the expenses of this tragic event.
Details about his funeral have not been released.
Click here for more information on the GoFundMe.
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