Jean Dorothy Kelley (née Chisholm)

Jean Dorothy Kelley (née Chisholm) passed away peacefully after a long and remarkable life at the age of 103.

Jean was born on March 1, 1923, in the hamlet of Five Islands, Nova Scotia. At the age of five she moved with her family to a farm near Clyde, Alberta. Farm life in those years was demanding and required hard work from everyone, but it was sustained by the love and closeness of family.

Jean excelled in school, skipping two grades before graduating from Grade 12. She went on to receive her teaching certificate from Normal School and began teaching in rural Alberta. Jean would later joke that she taught school for two years—her first and her last—as it was not a profession she loved. However, it was during those years that she met a local young man, Art Kelley, who would become her devoted husband.

Jean was predeceased by her parents Harvey and Hattie Viola Chisholm, her brother Lloyd, her sister Ruth, her brother Joseph who died very young, her nephew Harvey and by her son-in-law Terry. She was also predeceased by her beloved husband, Art Kelley. Art suffered a debilitating illness at the age of 51, and for more than twenty years Jean cared for him with unwavering devotion until his passing at age 71.

Jean will be lovingly remembered by her daughter Arlene Kelley-McGregor (Garry Hebert) and her son Glenn Kelley (Debra Stewart).

She was a proud grandmother to Reid McGregor (Kim) and Ryan McGregor (Mac); and Leah Lasarte (Jules), Miles Kelley (Nichol), Carman Kelley (Thomas), and Michelle Page (Jason). She was also a cherished great-grandmother to Bain, Dalton, Holly, Hazel, Lincoln, Olivia, George, Robin, and Jonah.

Jean also had a loving relationship with her niece Jeanie May, nephew Calvin and will be remembered by many other relatives back in Alberta – Audrey, Elsie, Guy, Marsha, Jim, Doug, Mary and so many more.

Following Art’s illness, Jean lived independently for another 52 years and embraced life fully. She co-published a set of cookbooks with her daughter, enjoyed golfing and curling, and travelled widely, with ocean cruises among her favorite adventures. She sang in the church choir until her voice gave out, and line danced until her hips insisted she slow down. Jean would knit and crochet continuously and was known to check out a garage sale or two. She took in university students as borders for many years.

To say Jean loved playing cards would be an understatement. She competed at the provincial level in bridge and rarely missed a cribbage night, continuing to play past her 100th birthday.

Jean volunteered with the church and with the Heart Fund.

Those who knew Jean remember her as kind and generous, intelligent and principled, with a wonderful sense of humour and a quick wit. She had an extraordinary memory and delighted family members with stories and details from her early years. As the family matriarch, she kept the threads of family history alive and took great joy in remembering and celebrating each generation.

One of Jean’s greatest gifts was her long life, which she filled with humour, warmth, friendship, and service to others. She led a happy life despite the challenges and is now at rest after 103 full and meaningful years.

The family would like to thank all the staff in unit WRS2 at the Health Science Center in Winnipeg for their wonderful care and support during Jean’s final days. There will be no funeral service.