Rea Jean Kelley

Born in Washington, Pennsylvania, Rea was the daughter of the late Robert (Bob) and Jennie Burnfield. Rea was a faithful life-long member of the Church of the Nazarene. In 1952 she married George Robert Kelley JR of Toronto Ohio at the Washington Pennsylvania Church of the Nazarene. Rea lived her entire life with a servant’s heart, serving God, her family, her church and her neighbors with God’s love and generosity.

Rea loved spending time with her grandchildren, going to their school programs and sports activities. She enjoyed weekend yard sales and bargain-shopping at the Victorian House. Rea was thrifty and was an avid coupon clipper. One of her favorite pastimes was working in her garden, digging in the dirt! As a young adult, she managed huge gardens and canned hundreds of jars of fruits and vegetables. Later in life, she was more likely to grow it then give it all away. Although Rea lost her vision in 1989, she still took pride in her home and continued to maintain the house inside and out: painting windows, doors, walls, anything that needed done.

Rea was preceded in death first by her parents, then her son, Shawn Kelley, on September 16, 2000, and then her husband of 53 years, George Kelley, on February 6, 2005.

Rea will be deeply missed by her sister Marie Frantz of Washington Pennsylvania; her sister Elaine and husband Bob Warholak of McClellandtown, Pennsylvania; her daughter Diane Perkins and husband Mark of Norwich Connecticut; her son Brian Kelley of Norwich; her daughter Colleen Endicott and husband Michael Kiel of Atwater, California; her daughter Sheila and husband Fred Peterson of Sutton Massachusetts; her son Wesley and wife Amy Kelley of Canterbury Connecticut; and many grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren, nieces, cousins and extended family.

Rea had a bad fall in 2017, which marked the beginning of a steady decline in her health, and her family rallied to support her in her additional needs. Rea wanted to express her heart-felt gratitude to all of her children, their spouses and her grandchildren who went out of their way to bring joy to her life and assist her in being able to stay in her home for the last few years of her life.

The family especially wants to express their deepest love and appreciation to Rea’s granddaughter Cara DiBattista of Norwich for the loving day-to-day care she provided her grandma for many years, especially these past 3 years, and to Rea’s daughter-in-law Marilyn Kelley of Halifax Massachusetts and Rea’s granddaughter, Melissa Kelley Bowen of Rockland Massachusetts for providing round-the-clock love and care during Rea’s final days. These three women truly were Rea’s angels.

Friends will be received at the Labenski Funeral Home, 107 Boswell Ave., Norwich CT with visitation at 10:00 AM Saturday, May 6, 2023; funeral service at 11:00 AM with Reverend James Beesley officiating. Internment will follow in Maplewood Cemetery, 184 Salem Turnpike, Norwich. A reception will follow at the First Congregational Church of Windham, 4 Windham Center Rd, Windham CT.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.labenskifuneralhome.com for the Kelley family.