Volunteer Spotlight: Kelly Ness

Family Service Rochester is proud to recognize Kelly Ness for her extraordinary commitment to volunteerism and the joy she brings to everyone she serves.

Kelly has been married for 30 years to, as she describes, her “favorite man in the world.” Together, they have built a beautiful family that includes three children—Kayla (28), Nicholas (26), and Ellie (23)—and two grandchildren, Charlotte (4) and Beau (2). A nurse for 30 years, most of her career has been spent at Mayo Clinic. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors on the lake in the summer and escaping to Arizona during the winter months. Whether trying new restaurants with friends, relaxing at home, or diving into a good book or podcast, she values time spent both in community and in quiet moments.

Volunteering has always been a natural passion for her because she truly loves helping people. She shares that if she can make even one person smile, “it makes my heart flutter.” One of her most memorable volunteer experiences was helping a woman move into her home. Over several days, she spent hours packing and, more importantly, having meaningful conversations. The experience reminded her that people handle stress and anxiety differently, and it deepened her belief in withholding judgment while offering compassion.

What brings her the most joy in volunteering is connecting directly with the people who receive support. Those conversations and connections reaffirm her belief that we are called to serve others. She says volunteering continues to humble her each time, strengthening her faith that serving others is truly an act of serving God.