Obituary of Mary E. Kelly

Mary E. Kelly, 95, of Howell passed away on Monday, March 11, 2019 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township.  Mary was born in Brooklyn on March 5, 1924.  After high school, she worked as a secretary for Abraham & Straus in downtown Brooklyn and for Barber Steamship Lines in NYC prior to marrying and raising her family. She was an active parishioner of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Brooklyn for almost 32 years until 1987, when she and her husband Frank moved to The Villages, an adult community in Howell.  There she was active in many clubs, serving terms as president of the CentraState Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary and of the Howell Friendship Club, volunteering at The Manor and enthusiastically involving herself in social and volunteer activities.   Since 1987, she was a faithful communicant of the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, Freehold Township.  Mary loved to sing, alone or in groups, and dance...especially the Peabody.  She was a keen Scrabble player and enjoyed crocheting thoughtful gifts that brought joy to many people.  Her blankets are legendary, and she was able to complete two baby blankets to be used someday by the next generation.  Most of all, Mary reveled in the time she spent with her beloved family. She delighted in her grandchildren, cherished her immediate and extended family, and created a sense of family wherever she went, as innumerable friends in New Jersey, New York and points beyond will attest.  She was smart, kind, moral, insightful, loyal and brave – and she was great fun to be around. 

Mary was predeceased by her husband, Francis J. Kelly, and four siblings: Catherine Connors, Anna Delaney, Edward Rooney, and James Rooney.  She is survived by her five children, Francis J. Kelly, Jr. and his wife Patricia of Morris Plains, Robert E. Kelly and his wife Mary Giblin Kelly of Keansburg, Joseph F. Kelly and his wife Lorraine of Old Bridge, Anne M. DiNapoli and her husband Louis of Freehold Township, and Mary E. Zeleny and her husband Robert of Aberdeen; eleven grandchildren, Claire Kelly, Moira Kelly, Colleen Kelly, Katherine Crowe, Theodore Kelly, Susan Goldberg and her husband Mark, Thomas DiNapoli, James DiNapoli, Bobby Zeleny and his wife Michelle, Joseph Zeleny, and Kelly Anne Zeleny; brother, Walter Rooney of Rockville Centre, NY; and sister, Helen Walls of Brooklyn.  She leaves behind many devoted nieces, nephews, cousins, dear friends and “fans.”

A visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Thursday, March 14, 2019 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM and Friday, March 15, 2019 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM.  Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home at 10:15 AM on Saturday, March 16, 2019 for the procession to her 11:15 AM Funeral Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. Interment will follow in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery, Freehold. For those who desire, donations may be made in Mary’s name to Freehold Area Open Door, Inc., 39 Throckmorton Street, PO Box 1073, Freehold, NJ 07728, a non-profit ecumenical food pantry and soup kitchen established by the Freehold Clergy Association. For information, directions, or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.