Colleen Dybäck
Colleen Anne (Kelly) Dybäck, of Slippery Rock, unexpectedly soared from this life on Thursday, July 13, 2023, to continue being the vibrant, artsy, studious, lovingly kind, extremely quick-witted and devilishly funny girl that she has always been. No one could tell a story like she could.
Born June 10, 1970, in Grove City, she was the daughter of Joseph Oscar Kelly and Barbara Jean McNees Kelly. Growing up in Slippery Rock Township, she spent a lot of her time playing with her big sister in the mud with Matchbox cars, fishing, holding award-winning stuffed animal music concerts using their parents’ records, going on countless nature-related adventures, refusing to eat beans and being forced to pull weeds in the garden while her sister threw worms in her hair. She was also a Girl Scout.
Colleen was an accomplished and award-winning steel guitar, drum and saxophone player, taught as a child at the Nastas Conservatory of Music in Ellwood City. She grew up deeply appreciating all genres of music, although her deepest love was for 1980s pop, rock and alternative rock, with a firm belief she would someday marry the lead singer of Duran Duran. She graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 1988 with her diploma and a collection of 1980s music and grunge clothing like no other. Concert attendance became her bucket list ambition. She was a human music encyclopedia rivaled by few. She also attended Edinboro University.
In 2000 Colleen met the absolute love of her life, Karl J. Dybäck, through their shared love of music, eventually taking the trip of a lifetime flying to Sweden to marry him and honeymooning in Latvia. They had a wonderful life together sharing countless memories, journeys and experiences with both laughter and tears. Only ever separated from each other when special circumstances warranted, they were always by each other’s side.
Colleen had a will of steel and was a family protector. She was an intensely independent, fierce, brave, funny, loving, creative, imaginative, chatty and kind woman who refused to grow up. She was an avid reader, crafter, photographer and traveler/wanderer, and had the deepest love for nature and animals. She was second mom and confidante to her nephews and nieces and a kindred spirit to her brother-in-law, Joe. Forced by her sister to be a genealogy fanatic, she was so proud of her roots, loved working on the family tree and was the direct descendant of several of the first settlers in Butler County, the direct descendant of eight documented Revolutionary War soldiers and a proud granddaughter of a World War II veteran.
Absolutely heartbroken and left behind to carry on wonderful, hilarious and heartfelt memories, stories and unbreakable family traditions are her ever-loving husband, Karl; her adoring sister, Sheryl Kelly (Joseph Myers); and the rest of her family whom she loved so much — her father-in-law, Janne Dybäck; her mother-in-law, Doris Jergander; her brothers-in-law Jonny Jergander (Maja) and Erik Dybäck; her beloved nephews and nieces, Ed Myers, Hopi Myers-Arrigoni (Travis), Willow Moulder (Kyle), Dante Jergander, Viggo Jergander, Elliot Dybäck-Norén, Nora, Owen, Henry and Roland; a number of uncles, aunts and cousins; and her dear spoiled kitties, Puck, Obie and Ebba.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father.
We will see you again, Colleen/Auntie, and until then you will be so dearly held in our hearts and so very sadly missed. We can’t wait to hear more stories. You have earned your warrior badge 100-fold.
DYBÄCK — Public visitation for Colleen Anne (Kelly) Dybäck, who died Thursday, July 13, 2023, will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, with a celebration of life service at 11 a.m. Saturday. Both visitation on Friday and visitation and service on Saturday will be held at the Friendship Presbyterian Church Community Center, 886 New Castle Road, Slippery Rock.
Online attendance of the celebration of life service is available by making prior arrangements with Smith Funeral Home. If wishing to attend via Zoom, make arrangements by contacting sfhsecretary@gmail.com no later than 4 p.m. Friday.
Arrangements are under the direction of SMITH FUNERAL HOME, Slippery Rock.
The family requests that no flowers be sent, but to instead make contributions in Colleen's name to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Cards and shared memories of Colleen would be deeply appreciated.
Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.
