Obituary of Kristen A. Boyd

Funeral Mass Video Link

Clicking on the link (above) will bring you to our facebook page (sign-in is NOT required).  A live-stream of the funeral mass will begin shortly before 10am on Saturday, December 21

Kristen (Melanson) Boyd, a loving wife, devoted mother, loving daughter, sister, and cherished friend, passed away on Thursday, December 5, 2024, after a courageous two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. She was 52 years old. Kristen was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, the daughter of Kerry and Kenneth Melanson, and was one of three children. She grew up in Burlington, MA, where she was a proud member of the Burlington High School Class of 1990. After graduating, Kristen went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University.

Kristen’s greatest adventure began when she met her future husband, Adam Boyd, through her lifelong friend, Lisa, while Adam was a cadet at West Point. They married and embarked on a lifetime journey together as a military family. Over the next 30 years, they called 18 different homes their own, living in places like Ft. Huachuca, Ft. Leonard Wood, Ft. Carson, Ft. Hood, Ft. Irwin, Carlisle Barracks, Grafenwoehr, Germany, Ft. Belvoir, Aberdeen Proving Ground, and many more across the United States and Europe. Kristen embraced each move with grace, turning every new place into a home, full of love and warmth. Her organizational skills, vibrant personality, and deep involvement in her children’s lives made each transition smooth and welcoming.

Kristen was an extraordinary military wife and mother, wholeheartedly committed to supporting her family and the families of others. She understood the importance of being part of the team, no matter where the Army sent them. Volunteering for the USO, Spouses Clubs, and local thrift stores gave her a sense of purpose. While she always said Adam was an Army leader, her quiet leadership shone through in her everyday actions. Kristen was the go-to person for new military families—whether it was hosting holiday meals, coordinating gift drives, offering a listening ear, or lending a helping hand to those struggling with the challenges of military life. On any given day, she could be a foster mom, a confidante, and a friend, always there to offer support with her signature blend of humor and grace.

Kristen's resilience and compassion shone especially brightly during Operation Iraqi Freedom when her husband, sister, and brother-in-law were all deployed at the same time. Kristen managed to keep the home front running smoothly with her children, Olivia and Colin, while also caring for her nephew, Liam, whose parents were also serving abroad.

While military life had its challenges, it also gave Kristen and her family incredible opportunities. She traveled across Europe and the United States, attended ceremonial events, shopped the world, explored Christmas markets, savored European cuisine, and made unforgettable memories along the way.

At home, Kristen was the glue that held everything together. She supported Adam’s military career with unwavering loyalty and pride, always ready for the next assignment, no matter where it led them. As a mom, she was constantly positive and involved, from rock climbing and hiking to supporting their children’s passions for gymnastics, soccer, rugby, swimming, jiu jitsu, tennis, baseball, track, and softball. Her dedication and nurturing spirit left a lasting impact—both of her children chose to follow in her footsteps of a life of selfless service and pursue military careers of their own.

In her rare moments of free time, Kristen enjoyed cross-stitching, collecting antiques, and reading. Her kindness, humility, courage, and just the right amount of sarcasm was what made her unforgettable. Kristen's endless love, compassion, and humor touched the lives of everyone who knew her. She will be deeply missed, but her memory will be cherished forever, and her legacy of kindness and service will live on in the hearts of all who loved her.

Kristen was the beloved wife of 30 years of Retired Colonel Adam J. Boyd, US Army.  She was the proud mother of 1^st Lieutenant (Promotable) Olivia Boyd, US Army currently serving in Belgium and 1^st Lieutenant Colin Boyd currently serving in Korea.  She was the loving daughter of Kerry (Mahegan) and Kenneth Melanson of Burlington, MA.  She was the sister of Kathleen Coulter & her husband Retired Lieutenant Colonel Sean Coulter, US Army of Allegany, NY and the late Kenneth Melanson.  She was the special aunt of 2^nd Lieutenant Liam Coulter, US Army, Cadet Lilly Coulter USAFA, Aiden Coulter, Alec Coulter, Hudson Boyd, Alexis Brown, Adeline Brown, Kiera Daponte, and Alexander Daponte.  She was the daughter-in-law of James and Ann Boyd of Bedford and sister-in-law of Ian Boyd of North Andover, Catherine Brown of Salem, OR, and Erin Boyd & Frank Daponte of Tamarac, FL.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Margaret Church in St. Veronica Parish, www.stveronicama.org, 111 Winn Street, Burlington, MA on Saturday, December 21 at 10 a.m. Following the mass there will be a celebration of Kristen’s life at the American Legion, Post 273, 162 Winn Street, Burlington, MA.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in Kristen’s name may be made to www.uso.org/donate/memorial-donation/. For online guestbook, video tribute, and livestream of the funeral mass see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net.  Arrangements under the direction of the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, Burlington, MA