William F. Kelly
William F. Kelly, 74. husband of Violet Kissel Kelly of Hartford Turnpike, North Haven passed away Sunday August 4, 2002 in St. Raphael Hospital. He was born in New Haven June 8, 1928 a son of the late John and Nora Donnelly Kelly and had resided in North Haven since 1968. He was a heat and frost insulator with local #33, a member of the Newhallville Shelton Ends Assoc., the Knights of Columbus, the Better Breather's Club of Gaylord Hospital, and he served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. Mr. Kelly is survived by several nieces and nephews and was predeceased by two brothers John and Gerald Kelly. Funeral from BEECHER & BENNETT 2300 Whitney Ave Hamden Wednesday August 7, at 9:30am. Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated in St. Barnabas Church at 10am. Friends may call Tuesday from 4-8pm. Burial in Beaverdale Memorial Park. Contributions in his memory may be sent to the American Lung Assoc. 45 Ash St. East Hartford, CT 06108-3272.
I will really miss Uncle Bill. I was proud and fortunate to have him give me away at my wedding in place of my father Jack and I will honor that memory forever. He was upbeat, funny and ALWAYS had a story to share. He never forgot a name from his past and delighted in sharing stories with us about those people that were lucky enough to have had the chance to meet him. I’ll admit I didn’t always follow every story and every name but I loved hearing them because he told them with such enthusiasm and delight. He was generous with his time, especially in caring for Nanny throughout her later life, going daily to the nursing home brightening not only Nanny’s day but all those working at the home with his stories and greetings. I take comfort in imagining that Billy has now met back up again with his beloved family, brothers Jack and Gerald, his parents and the many others that he loved, and loved him during his lifetime
Uncle Bill will certainly be missed by our family as he was such a big part of many of our get-togethers; even later on when he was not well, he and Vi would make it a priority to get to our celebrations and we will always remember that. He was always generous with his time and loved being sociable, even .way back when. when he hosted a huge annual Labor Day cookout for his family and friends; we (as kids) went crazy over the Jarts, bocce, and hot dogs; and he made sure the adults had a lot of fun and laughs too. A couple of months ago (this is really more my sister Nancy\’s story but I\’ll share), a few of us were together, with Bill and Vi, at my mother\’s house, and Bill asked my 3-year-old nephew Jack to run into the dining room and ask Vi to bring him something … Jack came into the dining room and said to Vi, .Your Dad wants you!. We all got a good chuckle out of that, especially Billy. More recently, Bill welcomed into our family, warmly, my husband Ed who shares the greatest respect for him; and I\’m glad that he had a few opportunities to spend time with our son Zack who may be too young to remember the visits, but we have pictures and stories to tell him. It can\’t be easy to have your family pass away before you, as Bill has seen, but I think we all know he is happy and at peace now with all those who have gone before him.
Uncle Billy handed me my wife of 19 years and mother of my three children, in place of his brother Jack. He was always kind and welcomed me into the family with open arms. I would see Billy every year when we visited for Christmas and he was always fun and full of life…even later on while he was burdened with that oxygen cart. He would always ask me about my Saints (NFL) and even seemed to follow them on my behalf. Vi and Billy have been aunt and uncle to me for almost 20 years, and it won\’t be the same without seeing uncle Billy regularly. He\’s with my other Saints (God) now, and I\’m sure he\’s smiling down on us. God Bless you Billy, Howard