Donnie Wahlberg Bids Final Farewell To Beloved Friend on the Day of Her Funeral

Donnie Wahlberg values his fans, and when one of his New Kids on the Block superfans died, he announced his loss on Instagram in a heartfelt post. On August 4, Wahlberg shared that his beloved fan and friend, Kelly Carlson, had died. He revealed no further details about her death, but he did make a heartfelt tribute reflecting on the time they shared and what an incredible human she was.

Wahlberg’s wife, Jenny McCarthy, penned her own heartfelt statement about her loss.

It has been weeks since the announcement, and on Sunday, August 24, a memorial service was held for Carlson.

Donnie Wahlberg Reacts to Fan’s Memorial Service

Wahlberg posted a photo of himself and Kelly on his Instagram Stories (which disappear after 24 hours) and a short but impactful message. “Rest peacefully, Kelly,” the text overlay read, Parade reports.

Before the funeral, Carlson’s daughter, Keira, made an announcement on her late mother’s Instagram account. She posted a photo of Kelly on August 21 and thanked fans for their outpouring of love. She also shared details about the service that would be held in honor of her mom.

“I want to thank everyone for the incredible amount of support my family and I have received over the last few weeks,” she wrote. “It hasn’t gone unnoticed. My family will be holding a service for my mom this Sunday, August 24th. Friends and loved ones are more than welcomed. More information will be linked. Thank you again.”

The “Blue Bloods” actor reacted to the post with three emojis: a purple heart, a dove, and a praying hands icon. Other fans also showed their love, with reactions including, “Shes been weighing so heavy on my heart,” “She was so beautiful. She will be very missed,” and “I’ve been thinking about you and your mom a lot. She is missed so much.”

Goodbye to a New Kids on the Block Superfan

On the announcement of Carlson’s memorial service, Keira also shared a link to her mother’s obituary on Dignity Memorial. It was revealed that she died on July 30, 2025. She was 49.

“Kelly was a bold, kind, loving, and beautiful person. She touched the lives of many with her kind nature, and she spread as much love as she could,” a description read. “Loved ones will always remember her love of adventure and free spirit. Kelly was ambitious- she put herself through post-secondary school while raising a child, she moved into her dream home and made it her own, and she never failed to make whatever it was she wanted happen. At the same time, she always offered support to her loved ones, no matter the personal cost.”

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