Kia Ora (Kay) Ann Zeleny passed away on the morning of January 4, 2023, at the age of 90.

She was born in Queens, New York on October 27, 1932 to Peter and Nan Breslin. She graduated from Nutley High School in New Jersey. She completed secretarial school and worked in the Empire State Building before marrying Richard Zeleny.

After moving from the Mid-West to the San Francisco Bay Area, raising their four children, and separating from her husband, Kia Ora went on to successful careers at Kaiser Engineers, and later as a real estate broker. She eventually moved to Yreka, California where in retirement she followed her lifelong dream of getting a college education, gaining an AA degree from Weed community college.

Based on her grades and achievements at Weed, Humboldt State University offered her a scholarship. She moved to on-campus student housing at the age of 63 and began a new life in academia, which were some of the most fulfilled years of her life. She earned her BA degree in Anthropology in 1996, graduating magna cum laude, and then went on to work on her Master’s degree.

Her focus and passion were Chinese Studies. She attained a good command of the Mandarin language (no small feat) and took three trips to China. The last was as a full-year foreign exchange student in Xian at 68 years of age.

Kia Ora was smart and feisty! She was a great cook, gardener, and artist. She loved books, words, puzzles and games, and nature. She avidly followed local, national, and world politics and news. She was active in many groups, including the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at HSU, the American Association of University Women, book clubs, and local walkathons.

Humboldt was the home of her heart. She loved the community, the ocean, the redwoods, and the beautiful clean air.

Kia Ora is preceded in death by her parents and brother Tom. She is survived by her children Cathy (Sue), Richard, David, and Lynne, as well as her grandchildren Kirsten, David, Christopher, Jeremy, Brandon, Jacob and Andrew, and her great grandchildren.

Her ashes will be scattered privately. Donations may be made in Kia Ora’s name to a favorite charity.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Kia Zeleny’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.