Mary Elizabeth Kelly

Newport, RI - Mary Elizabeth Donovan Kelly, 88, of 97 Malbone Road, Newport, RI, died Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at home surrounded by her family. She was the wife of the late William Herbert Kelly. Born in Fall River, MA, on April 14, 1920, she was the daughter of the late Thomas J. and Esther Welch Donovan.Mrs. Kelly was a school secretary at Coggeshall School in Newport for 13 years, retiring in June of 1981. She was a life long communicant of St. Josephs Church where she was a member of the Rosary Altar Society and was also steward of the month. Mrs. Kelly was a member of the Edward King Senior Center, the Middletown Senior Center and the Portsmouth Senior Center, The Third Beach Club, the Saturday Night Gang and the Goons. She served as Junior Catholic Daughters Troop Leader where she led the Marian Medal Project, she was a Girl Scout Leader and served as regional cookie chair. She is survived by her son Lt. William S. Kelly, MPD, ret of Middletown, RI, her daughters Dr. Maureen E. Kelly and her spouse Dean Stoddard of Tucson, AZ, Kathleen Patricia Kelly of Newport, RI, and Jane A. Kelly of Middletown, RI, her brother Joseph T. Donovan and his wife Mary of Newport, RI and her grandchildren William Sean Kelly, II of Salem, MA and Colleen Kelly McAllister of Tucson, AZ. She was the sister of the late Thomas W. Donovan and John E. Jack Donovan. Her funeral will be held on Friday, July 18, 2008, at 9:00am, from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am, in St. Josephs Church, Broadway and Mann Avenue, Newport. Burial will be in St. Columbas Cemetery in Middletown.Calling hours will be held on Thursday, July 17, 2008, from 2-4 and 7-9, in the funeral home.Donations in her memory may be made to St. Josephs Soup Kitchen, Broadway Mann Avenue, Newport, RI 02840 or to the Visiting Nurse Services of Newport Bristol Counties, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871.