Patricia Lee Kelly, age 84, passed away at Danbury Hospital on January 30. Her death was peaceful surrounded by her loving family. Pat was born in Rahway, NJ on March 18, 1939. Her family moved to Danbury in 1948. She attended Main St. school and graduated from Danbury High School in 1956. She received her bachelor’s degree in education from Danbury State Teachers College and began her teaching career in the Bethel school system. Other than one year of teaching in California, her 37-year teaching career was spent in Bethel. Along the way, Pat earned a master’s degree and a 6th year certification in special education.
Pat is predeceased by her parents Joseph and Catherine (Fitzpatrick) Kelly and a sister Kathleen Moriarty. Her immediate family consists of Joseph E. Kelly, Jr and is wife Jackie of Newtown, and Sharon E. (Kelly) DeJoseph and her husband Tom of Danbury.
Her nieces and nephews, Erin (Moriarty) Nagel, Jennifer Moriarty Schneider, Dr. Maura DeJoseph Hoppa, Jonathan DeJoseph, Krys Russo, and Rick Bolander, brought her much love and enjoyment.
Her great nieces and nephews, Kennedy, Callie, Brennan, Cooper, Evan, Sean, Henry, Elliott, and Ronan brought her love, laughter, and joy.
As a devout Catholic, Pat spent many hours in service for St. Mary Parish in Bethel as a lector, Eucharistic Minister, First Friday devotions, and Women of Faith group. Special interests included Toast Masters, Iota Honor Society which sponsored student scholarships, and service on the Board of the former Bethel VNA.
Her love of children and teaching were the main forces in her life and friendships were her avocation. She was like a gem that brought a ray of light into the lives of everyone she met. Her passing is a great loss to her family and her caring friends. We hope the memories of her Irish humor will continue to brighten our lives.
We will miss you, Pat.
Donations in her memory may be made to:
St. Mary School, Bethel, CT
RVNA, Ridgefield, CT
St. Mary Parish, Bethel, CT
Visitation for Patricia will be held Friday, February 2, 2024, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Green Funeral Home 57 Main St., Danbury, CT 06810. A Mass of Christian Burial will occur Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 11:00 AM at St. Mary Church, 26 Dodgingtown Rd, Bethel, CT 06801. Committal will follow at St. Mary Cemetery, CT-53, Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801.
