Donna H. Kiely

Donna H. (Davis) Kiely, age 73, of Fall River, Massachusetts, passed away Thursday, April 1, 2021 at her residence. Born in Fall River, the daughter of the late William W. Davis, Jr. and Helen A. (Cox) Davis, she was a lifelong resident of the city.

A graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School, Class of 1965, she was also a graduate of UMass Dartmouth, Class of 1971. She was a Supervisor at the Department of Transitional Assistance for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for many years. She was also a hand quilting Instructor at Bristol Community College and funded much of her passion for travel by making and selling custom designed hand-made quilts. After retirement, she worked as a Realtor for Cobblestone Realty.

She was a member of the Red and Black Club at Durfee, the New Bedford Rod and Gun Club, the N.R.A. and served for two full terms as the Regent of the New Bedford Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

An avid world traveler, she visited places across the globe but her favorite had to be Walt Disney World! She enjoyed the outdoors and participated in many types of outdoor recreation. She was an ardent animal lover and spent years rescuing strays and helping them find loving homes. She met her pet soul mate in her sweet “Buddy”, whom she rescued and helped restore to health, after he was abandoned. He was by her side through her illness. She most especially enjoyed gathering her family and friends at her beloved summer residence on the Cape and relaxing at the beach in Dennisport.

She is survived by her two sons, James A. Kiely and his wife Paula of Westport, Massachusetts and Matthew Kiely and his wife Heather of Barrington, Rhode Island; four grandchildren, Emily, Meagan, Olive and Zane Kiely and several nieces and nephews. She devoted much of her life to her grandchildren and was so proud of all of their accomplishments!

Her visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 from 4:00 to 7:00PM in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Rose E. Sullivan, 866 County St., Somerset. Her Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 10:00AM in the First Congregational Church, 282 Rock St., Fall River. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her honor may be made to the Jimmy Fund Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th floor, Brookline, MA 02445. Burial private.