Francis Peter Kelly

Francis “Frank” Peter Kelly of Essex and Naples, FL, passed away on Saturday, October 12, 2024 surrounded by his loved ones. Frank was born on August 7, 1946 to Mary (Anczak) Kelly and Francis J. Kelly. From an early age, Frank had a strong work ethic, taking jobs delivering newspapers in his hometown of West Hartford and in restaurants in Niantic in the summers, where he learned to work hard, cook and properly serve a cup of tea. Graduating from St. John’s Prep in 1964, Frank enrolled at Cornell University hotel management program, and became a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Returning to Connecticut, he completed his BA in accounting at the University of Hartford and his MBA in 1976. He met the love of his life Diane Zizzamia Kelly, and they were married at Saint James Church. Devoted to each other, they were inseparable and celebrated 53 years of marriage this year.

Frank Kelly was President of Kell-Strom Tool in Wethersfield. A pillar of the aviation tooling and machining industry, he was a champion of Connecticut manufacturing, and a member of Connecticut Tooling and Machining Association and its national counterpart NTMA.

He shared his grit and thirst for learning with his daughters Alison Frances Kelly of Naples, FL and Jennifer Kelly Murrihy and treasured son-in-law Kevin Murrihy of Wethersfield. His grandchildren, Sophia Katherine, Olivia Anne, and Francis Michael Murrihy were truly the light of his life, and his true joy was being their “Papa”.

Frank was like a lighthouse for our family, with steady and gentle guidance through both calm and stormy waters. He will be remembered for his generosity, hospitality, and his close connections with friends throughout his life.

Predeceased by his parents, Mary and Francis J. Kelly and his parents-in-law, Albert Zizzamia, Joan Zizzamia Uricchio, and Dan Uricchio; his nephew, Albert T. Zizzamia and brothers-in-law, Albert Zizzamia, Jr. and Raymond Sullivan, and he is embracing his great-nephew, Robert Francis McVerry in Heaven.

As one of eight children, Frank is survived by a close-knit clan including his brothers Robert M. Kelly and his wife Julia of Charlestown, RI, Thomas J. Kelly of Black Point, East Lyme, Peter J. Kelly and his wife Robin of Attawan Beach, East Lyme; his sisters Valerie J. Sullivan of Princeton Junction, NJ and Woodbridge, VA, Karen K. Kiss and her husband David of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, Lisa K. McVerry and her husband John of Downingtown, PA, Maureen S. Kelly and her wife Patty Weick of Ocean City, NJ.

He was very proud of his nieces and nephews and their families, including: Godson Daniel Zizzamia, Ph.D. and his wife Beth of Chesterfield, VA and their children Wallace and Clark; Colonel Patrick Sullivan, US Army, Ret., his wife Beth of Alexandria, VA, and their children Kylie, Caitlin, and Cullen Sullivan; Michael Sullivan and his husband Mark Robertson of Chicago, IL; Captain Timothy Sullivan, US Navy, Ret., his wife Andrea of Woodbridge, VA, and their children Sadie, Charles, and Quinn Sullivan; Lieutenant Robert Sullivan, US Navy, his wife Rachel of Colorado Springs, CO and their children Erin, Scott, and Laura Sullivan; Major Sean Kelly, US Army, Ret. and his wife Jeanne of Naples, FL, and their children Lauren, Jason, and Ryan Kelly; Gregory McVerry, Ph.D., his wife Jennifer of East Haddam, CT and their children John, Ben, and Dan McVerry; Robert McVerry and his wife Constanza of Austin, TX and their beloved angel son Robert Francis McVerry; Carmelo Perez Morales, Jr. and his wife Eboni of Vineland, NJ and their children Amaya Morales, Gianna Hanes and Micah Buckman; Joseph Kelly, his wife Natalie of Bolton, CT and their children Aiden and Lucas Kelly; Deana Zizzamia of Murphys, CA; Kristine Kelly Chitkara, her husband Nevin of Westwood, MA, and their children Brenna, Brady, and Brogan Chitkara; Michele Kiss, her husband Lee Isensee of San Jose, CA and their son David John Isensee; Maureen “Moe” Kiss and her husband Jamie Behl of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and their children Harry and Bobby Behl Kiss; Kelly McVerry, her partner Brandon Reese of Green Mountain Falls, Colorado and their children Dylan and Kleone McVerry-Reese; Katey McVerry, her partner Jimmy O’Brien of Media, PA and their children James, Oliver, and Autumn O’Brien; Karley McVerry Weidner and her husband Matthew Weidner of Downingtown, PA and their children Markel and Xavier Weidner.

Nothing meant more to Frank and his family than his greatest friends who were there for him to stand vigil and provide comfort. The family would also like to thank the Hartford Hospital Bliss 11 ICU staff who provided excellent care.

Calling hours are Friday, October 18, from 4-7 p.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 19 at 11 a.m. at St. James Church of St. Josephine Bakhita Parish, 767 Elm Street, Rocky Hill. Attendees are asked to please go directly to the church. Mass is viewable via livestream:

https://evt.live/frank-kelly-mass-of-christian-burial-october-19-2024

Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill. In lieu of flowers, Frank expressed a wish for donations to one of his favorite charities: House of Heroes Connecticut, 3342 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518 or www.hohct.org; YMCA Camp Woodstock, 42 Camp Road, Woodstock Valley, CT 06282 at www.campwoodstock.org, or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306 www.t2t.org. To share a memory of Frank, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com