Obituary of Mary Jane Kelly

Mary Jane "Jane" Kelly Mary Jane "Jane" Ekins Kelly passed peacefully on May 3, 2011 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center surrounded by her family. Described by her family, Jane was a serene, lovely lady who loved her God, her family and her Irish heritage. She was a giver and a doer for others, always putting herself in the background. She lived daily the beatitudes of Jesus. Her quiet and gentle manner will be missed by those she came to know her including the elderly in their homes or health care facilities, the homeless at the shelter, the many that she arranged medical transportation or grocery pickup and the list goes on. She helped others quietly and without fanfare. Born in New York City on May 27, 1936 to loving parents, Thomas and Beatrice Malone Ekins, both of County Louth, Ireland, Jane attended Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Grammar School, Sacred Heart of Mary Academy, and Collegiate Secretarial School all in New York City as well as Ladycliff College in Highland Falls. Jane married her high school sweetheart, Michael "Mike" Kelly on October 24, 1959 in New York City. Mike always says the date he met Jane was really the date of his birth. After their marriage, they lived in Queens, Hauppauge and in 1966 moved to Poughkeepsie. Jane worked as an administrative assistant for American Home Magazine in New York City and Sperry Gyroscope Company in Great Neck, Long Island. After her children started school, she held a similar position at Chabad Jewish Center in Poughkeepsie until her retirement. Jane loved to travel and visited most of the United States and many foreign countries. Her favorite being trips to Ireland, visiting her parent's homes. Jane was involved in numerous organizations including the Dutchess County St. Patrick's Parade Committee where she was a charter member and executive secretary, her church, St. Mary's in Wappingers Falls where she was director of the outreach program, involved with the food pantry, as well as an Eucharistic Minister, March of Dimes where she instituted the "Raggedy Ann and Andy" puppet program used to explain to school children the difficulties faced by handicapped children, Irish Heritage Foundation where she was membership chairperson, St. Mary's Mothers Guild, where she was instrumental in starting the hot lunch program, Catholic Daughters, Court Queen of Peace, Meals on Wheels, Dutchess County Homeless Shelter, and the Ladies Auxiliary of the New Hamburg Yacht Club. Jane was a very dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. She spent countless hours traveling to watch the grandchildren's games, school plays, and activities as well as attend birthdays and other significant events. In October of 2009, Jane and Mike celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a family cruise and wrapped up their year by renewing their vows at a mass at her mother's church in Ireland followed by a reception with their Irish relatives. In addition to her husband, Mike, she is survived by her four sons, Michael and wife, Louise of Centerport, Thomas and wife, Tricia of Saratoga Springs, Kevin and wife, Pam of Clifton Park and Glen of Poughkeepsie; her grandchildren, Michael, Shannon, Meg, Katherine, Liz, Matthew, Erin, Caroline, Jack and McKenna; her sister, Joan Curley and her husband, Michael; cousins, Kathleen White, Michael McDermott and wife, Frieda, Irene Albert and husband, Richie and many other cousins in Ireland as well as several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her daughter, Nancy, who died May 3, 1971. Family will receive their friends on Thursday, May 5, 2011 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Friday, May 6 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 E. Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 7 at St. Mary's Church, Clinton Street, Wappingers Falls. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery in Wappingers Falls. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jane's name to St. Mary's School Angel Fund, 2 Convent Avenue, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. For directions to the funeral home or to send the family a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.