Sr. Mary Kelly, OSF

Sister Mary was born in Kincaid, IL, on July 27, 1932, the daughter of Clarence and Mary Rose (Ferrari) Kelly. She entered the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis on September 12, 1951, and professed her first vows on June 13, 1954.

Sister Mary was a 1955 graduate of St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Marquette University in 1958 and a master’s degree in nursing from The Catholic University of America in 1965. Her life of service included nursing leadership at Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin, nursing education at Marillac College (St. Louis, MO), Provincial Vicaress and Motherhouse Superior of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, the board of directors of HSHS, and receptionist at HSHS.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Clarence Kelly. She is survived by a sister-in-law, Lea Kelly; nieces Sue (Jon) Werger and Karen (Gregg) King; a nephew, Paul (Cindy) Kelly; several great nieces and nephews; several great-great nieces and nephews; and several cousins, as well as her Franciscan Sisters with whom she shared her life for 71 years.

The Visitation will be held at St. Francis Convent from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, December 8, 2025, with a Wake Service at 6 p.m. The Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Richard Chiola on Tuesday, December 9 at 10:00 a.m. in the St. Clare of Assisi Adoration Chapel with burial in Crucifixion Hill Cemetery at St. Francis Convent.

The Franciscan Sisters and family of Sister Mary Kelly are being served by Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield.