Kathleen M (Lyons) Kelley

Kelley, Kathleen (Lyons) “Kay”

Kathleen (Lyons) Kelley, 88, died peacefully on September 2, 2024, in her Watertown home surrounded by family. Kay was born in Brighton on February 5, 1936, to her parents, Joseph Lyons and Margaret (O’Brien) Lyons.

Devoted mother of: Peggy Kelley of Watertown, Laura Kelley of Cambridge, Caroline (Kelley) Jacques, of Medford and her late husband Paul Jacques, Joseph M. Kelley Jr. and his wife Ellen of Paxton, Susan (Kelley) Lavigne and her husband Steve of Sudbury, Katie (Kelley) Geraghty and her husband Patrick of West Roxbury, Sarah (Kelley) Woods and her husband Jeff of Needham, Chris Kelley and his wife Heather of Winchester.

She is survived by her loving sister Peggy (Lyons) Cummings of Needham, brother-in- law Jerry Kelley of Sandwich, and cousin Jackie O’Brien of Wells, Maine and predeceased by her sister Mary (Lyons) Warren and brother Joseph Lyons.

Adored grandmother of Hannah Jacques and her partner Derek Earp, Liam Jacques and his wife Kathy Henriquez, Niamh Jacques, Bridget (Kelley) Dimauro and her husband Joe, Mairead Kelley, Molly Kelley, Luke Geraghty, Aidan Geraghty, Michael Geraghty, Liza Kelley, Thomas Kelley, Amy Kelley, Katie Mae Lavigne, Anthony Lavigne, Gabriel Woods, Ciara Woods. Special Aunt to many nieces and nephews near and far.

Kay graduated from Saint Columbkille High School (1953) and later Boston State College (1957), where she earned a degree in Kindergarten-Primary Education. She taught public school in Needham and Framingham. After raising eight children, Kay returned to the classroom as a Reading Specialist, developing literacy and instilling a lifelong love of reading in children at the nearby James Russel Lowell School in Watertown, retiring in 2001.

Kay married Joe Kelley, her Foster Street next-door neighbor, in February 1960. In 1964, they moved to Standish Road, Watertown, where they brought up their children, Peggy, Laura, Caroline, Joe, Susan, Katie, Sarah and Chris. Joe and Kay enjoyed many healthy and joyous years together entertaining friends, traveling and relaxing days on the shores of Cape Cod and Cape Ann. Joe died in 1992 following a lengthy, brave battle with cancer. Like her husband, Kay was devout in her faith and sang beautifully at church.

She delighted in gardening flowers and shrubs in her yard and baking scrumptious blueberry muffins, pumpkin bread and chocolate chip cookies, and she could not pass by a good yard sale.

Kay’s most cherished visitors called her “Nana”. They were her 16 grandchildren - Hannah, Liam and Niamh, Bridget, Mairead and Molly, Katie, Anthony, Luke, Aidan and Michael, Gabriel and Ciara, Liza, Thomas and Amy.

Kay is best known and loved for the time spent and care she gave to others, especially her family, dear “Club”, many friends and kind neighbors. Kay reminded us to “keep the peace”, “think happy thoughts” and “Let Go, Let God”.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you perform a random act of kindness in her honor this week. We are blessed.

Wake to be held Friday, September 6th, 4 - 7 pm, at Brown & Hickey Funeral Home, Cushing Square, Belmont, Catholic Funeral Mass Saturday, September 7th at 10 am, at Saint Columbkille Church, 321 Market Street, Brighton. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Interment will follow at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, West Roxbury.

To watch a live stream of the funeral mass log onto www.harborview.live

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kathleen M (Lyons) Kelley, please visit our floral store.