Sean Matthew Kelly, 39, of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, passed away suddenly of natural causes on July 20, 2026, at Fort Drum, New York. A Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army, he was born October 25, 1986, in Augsburg, Germany. Sean was the son of Matthew and Kathleen (Kirby) Kelly, and younger brother of Kristine (Kelly) Deibert. The family moved to Orwigsburg in 1996 when Sean was 9, where he attended Blue Mountain, graduating in 2005 from Blue Mountain High School.

Sean was the heart of any gathering and sparked passionate conversations and debates throughout his life. He connected with people on so many different levels -  he loved playing football, from Blue Mountain Midgets through captaining the high school team, listening to music, playing games, and even devoting late-night basement hours to Dungeons & Dragons.

Prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army in 2012, Sean attended Widener University before living and working on Folly Beach, South Carolina. His military assignments included Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Fort Stewart, Georgia; Grafenwöhr, Germany; Fort Carson, Colorado; and most recently Fort Drum, New York. During his deployment to Germany, his unit spent time in Poland assisting refugees who were displaced by the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In recent years, along with continuing his Army career, Sean pursued higher education. He earned his associate's degree from Grantham University in 2025, and was working toward completion of his bachelor's degree in spring 2027. Sean always loved to read and learn, and he avidly discussed books and ideas with friends and family. He happily volunteered his time, energy, and support to many. Most importantly to Sean, he chose sobriety and thrived in the embrace and support of the recovery community which sustained him in Schuylkill County and beyond.

Sean is survived and will be mourned by his parents Matt and Kathi, his sister Kristine, his brother-in-law Steve Deibert, his beloved nephew and niece Silas and Sydnie Deibert, his aunts, uncles, and cousins. He will be deeply missed by so many friends who are family. Sean was taken too soon. But he would want us to know that in these last years he was living the good, satisfying life he sought, and that he treasured all the laughter, joy, love, and understanding he found with the people in his life. Sean showed us that hope, connection, acceptance, and patience can overcome the heaviest challenges and roadblocks in life, as he was striving to do every day.

An evening visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Sunday, August 2nd at Hamilton-Breiner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 116 S. Liberty Street, Orwigsburg, PA, and again on Monday, August 3rd from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at Faith Worship Center, 1168 Centre Turnpike, Orwigsburg, PA. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 AM in the church on August 3rd. Interment, with military honors will be held at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA at 2:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Alzheimer's Association, Attn:  Donor Services,  225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite #1700, Chicago, IL  60601 or the Orwigsburg Area Free Public Library, 216 West Independence Street, Orwigsburg, PA 17961

Alzheimers Association
Attn: Donor Services, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Suite #1700, Chicago IL 60601
Web: http://www.alz.org

Orwigsburg Area Free Public Library
216 West Independence Street, Orwigsburg PA 17961
Tel: 1-570-366-1638
Email: [email protected]