Connie B. Kelly

Connie is the last surviving Benacquista family member born to Enrico and Emilia Benacquista. She lived nearly her entire life on Frederick Street, the Silver Lake section of Belleville. A graduate of Belleville HS, she started working for the Howard Savings Bank in Newark and later retired after working 25 years for the Belleville Public Library.

She belonged to the Belleville-Nutley chapter of Deborah Hospital and was a member of the St. Anthony’s Rosary Society. She enjoyed reading, a clean house and most of all her grandchildren, family and friends.

Connie is preceded in death by her husband John V. Kelly of Newark. She is survived by her daughter Cindy Marchese, her favorite son-in-law Bob Marchese, loving granddaughter and grandson Alyssa and Rob Marchese, her son Jack Kelly and daughter-in law Mimi McDonough. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law Ruth and Richard Pinto of Villa Park, CA, her cousin Yolanda Lembo and many loving nieces and nephews.

Connie was especially close to her nieces Nancy Mikula and Carol Ann Rockwell and her lifelong friend, living next door to each other for 88 years on Frederick St., Rita Driza and her husband Charlie.

Visitation will be held at Zarro Funeral Home, 145 Harrison St., Bloomfield, Thursday, April 14, 3pm to 7:30pm. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 9am at Zarro Funeral Home with Church service at St. Anthony’s Church, 10:30am. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 340 Ridge Rd., N. Arlington.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, www.nationalmssociety.org

If contributing to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society look for Team Cindy, West Orange, the MS walk is this Sunday.