Avril Elizabeth Munro, our beloved mother, was born in Riverside, New Jersey, a first-generation American to British immigrants on May 4th, 1954.  Avril loved nothing more in this life than her family, friends, education, and community. She dedicated her days to spreading love, light, and joy to everyone she interacted with.

She was the middle child among seven siblings, residing in Wilmington, Delaware. At a young age she was responsible for looking after her younger siblings as well as assisting her mother in the family business: a kindergarten/daycare center. These were roles that she quickly excelled in. 

During her teenage years, Avril was a quick learner and did well in school. Making friends easily, she was very social. Among her many activities, she enjoyed drama club, chorus, dance, gardening, sewing & knitting, all of which became lifelong hobbies. It was also during these years she found her voice for social justice attending rallies for women’s equality & aligning with minority rights.

In 1975, at the age of 21 Avril left Delaware and moved to Eagle, Colorado to live with her older sister, Nicola. There, she immediately fell in love with the beauty and power of the Colorado landscape, igniting a deep connection with nature and the outdoors.

In 1977, she relocated to Bellingham, WA, to attend Western Washington University, where she rekindled her passion for learning and began preparing for a career in early childhood education. In early 1978, while visiting a friend in Oregon, our mother was introduced to our father. Soon after, she settled in Portland where she would spend the rest of her life. Here, Avril gave birth to two sons whom she raised with love, laughter, and strength.

As a young mother, Avril was the director of various preschool programs, nurturing her love for early childhood education. She earned her master's in education from Portland State University in 1992. She embarked on her career with Portland Public Schools, where she taught kindergarten through second grade until her retirement as a cherished member of the Metropolitan Learning Center staff and community in 2019.

Like a caterpillar to a butterfly, Avril's dedication and commitment to education and children metamorphosed a college graduate, and mother of two, into a masterful teacher, leader, and loving community member. Throughout her career, she touched the lives of countless children, families, and colleagues across the city. After retiring from PPS, Avril found a way to continue her passion for education by becoming the impromptu teacher for her beloved grandchildren, Althea and Francesco, during the height of the pandemic.

At the beginning of 2023, our mother was diagnosed with an aggressive form of dementia, which she had privately battled for the past few years. Her decline was rapid and heartbreaking, and she succumbed to the disease on September 5th, 2023, in the presence of her beloved husband, Douglas Kelly, and her dear sister, Sierre Munro Davalos.

Avril is survived by her two sons, Jesse and Sean, their wives (her “daughters in love”), Valerie and Ariel, her grandchildren, Francesco and Althea, and her husband Douglas, as well as her siblings, Jude, Sierre, Andrew, Chris, and Bryan. Her powerful legacy of connectivity and togetherness lives on in all the loved ones she touched. She will be immortalized in every song sung in the shower, every goofy voice that brought laughter, every meal shared around a family table, every story read to a child, and every student with whom she cultivated a love of learning. She impacted so many lives, and although her body no longer resides on this earth, her spirit will continue to inspire many for generations to come.

Momma, you were a magical woman and an endless source of goodwill and kindness in this world. We are eternally grateful for the life you gave us. Thank you.

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