Mary Elizabeth Parks Kelly's Obituary
Mary Elizabeth Parks Kelly, 72, a resident of Bonita Springs, Florida since 2017, formerly of Waldwick, New Jersey, passed away Wednesday, June 9, 2021, in Fort Myers, Florida. She was born September 21, 1948 in Herkimer, New York to the late Alfred and Sarah Parks. She was preceded in death by her brother, Gregory Parks.
She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, James Kelly; three sons, Michael Kelly and his wife Yvonne of Mahwah, New Jersey, James T. Kelly and his wife Genevieve Burch of San Rafael, California and John Kelly and his wife Michelle of Waldwick, New Jersey; six adored grandchildren, Mackenzie, Kaitlyn, Elizabeth, James, Mia and Declan; as well as many extended family members and friends.
Mary was a very kind, caring, fully integrated, and loving person. She enjoyed her childhood and growing up in the small Village of West Winfield, in upstate New York. She attended the University of Dayton, where she met Jim and they later married. They settled in Waldwick, New Jersey, where they raised their family. They retired in 2017 to the Shadow Wood community in Southwest Florida. She enjoyed her teaching career in elementary education, especially kindergarten and the second grade. Her interests included reading, travel, golf, bridge, mah-jong, and much more.
Mary was a lifelong practicing Roman Catholic with strong Christian beliefs. She had been blessed in recent years in her involvement with the women’s Bible Study group, where she grew with the love of her wonderful sisters in Christ, in the study of the Bible. God bless all these gifted caring women, and all of you who touched and loved Mary.
Mary loved life and acknowledged her special blessing to be a mother and have the opportunity to raise three wonderful sons. She loved her entire family and husband Jim. Mary always acknowledged her blessings and being surrounded with the love and grace of Jesus. We believe Mary is now in heaven with God, all the saints, her parents and brother.
Please pray for Mary, her family, and friends as the grieving process takes place as we fully accept Mary’s passing. May God have mercy on her soul. Heaven has gained an angel.
A funeral mass and service will be held at The Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, on Friday, June 25, 2021 at 11:15 am. In lieu of flowers, consider a contribution to the Marianists (The Society of Mary) at marianist.com.
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