Obituary of Kelly Jo Hecht

Kelly Jo Hecht (Woods), age 54, passed away on February 12, 2020, in Melbourne, FL, after a long illness. Per Kelly’s request there will be a private family gathering. Ammen Family Cremation & Funeral Services is handling arrangements. Kelly was born and raised in Sturgis, MI, on May 11, 1965 to Donald Woods and Phyllis (Heitger) Woods. Kelly graduated from Sturgis High School before moving to Ft. Wayne, IN where she studied at International Business College. After moving back to Sturgis, she married Matthew Hecht on October 10th, 1992, in Sturgis, MI. Kelly moved to Florida’s east coast in 1993, after discovering Florida weather was better for her health. Kelly’s greatest joy in her life came with the birth of her son, Alexander in 1995. She was a loving and devoted mother and very proud of her son’s military service. The second greatest joy in her life came when Alex married his high school sweetheart, Victoria. Kelly loved her sisters and all her nieces and nephews. Family was very important to her. Kelly shared much of her adult life with her soulmate, Tom Betz, and she shared most of her life with her BFF (best friend forever), Sherry (Boughton) Fry. They met when they were toddlers and their close friendship continued through all of Kelly’s life. Kelly was always eager to be a problem solver for friends, family and employers. She loved gardening, and often said working with plants and soil was her way of meditating. Kelly also enjoyed a career in the field of accounting support. Kelly is survived by her son, Alexander (Victoria) Hecht; her sisters, Tammy Loveland of Melbourne, FL & Victoria (James) Collins of Dubuque, IA; nieces, Alicia (Derek) Flotte of Three Rivers, MI & Cara Wilson of Melbourne; nephews, Ian Wilson of Three Rivers, MI, Christopher (Allison) Collins & Michael Collins of Dubuque, IA; and Justin Nickels of Edgewater, FL; soulmate, Tom Betz; former brother-in- law, Thomas Nickels; life-long best friend, Sherry Fry and several greatnieces and nephews. Kelly was preceded in death by her parents, Donald Woods & Phyllis Woods, her sister, Lorrie Nickles, and her nephew, Joel Nickels.