Mary Catherine Kelly Kelly Vella

Mary Catherine Kelly Vella, a lifelong resident of Mobile and parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, died at her residence on Wednesday, August 22, 2012. She was born on April 21, 1917, the daughter of Thomas L. Kelly, Sr. and Alma Zimlich Kelly. She attended Visitation Academy. She was preceded in death by her husband, John H. Vella, Jr., her granddaughter, Ashley E. Vella, her brothers, Andrew Kelly and James Kelly, and her sister, Alma Kelly. She is survived by her six children, Mary Vella (Lee) Leavitt, Delores Vella Courtney, Alma Rose Vella (Russell) Ladner, John H. (Betty) Vella all of Mobile, Ceil Vella (Henry) Barnes of Walnut Grove, AL, and George A. (Diane) Vella of Mobile, 20 grandchildren, Mary (Pat) Dwyer, Julia L. Otto, J. L. Leavitt, Anthony G. Leavitt, Michele (Mike) Shine, Cathy (David) Williams of Atlanta, GA, Kelly (Mason) Rudolph, Jr. of Covington, LA, John Charles (Laura) Courtney, Johnny Ladner, Alan (Suzann) Ladner, Randy (Jennifer) Ladner, John H. Vella, IV of Killeen, TX, Hilary E. Hinkle of Birmingham, AL, Meghan L. (Chris) Greene of Simpsonville, SC, Barclay J. Brady, Ben (Sherry) Barnes of Birmingham, AL, Kiley (Allison) Barnes of Buffalo, WY, Seth Barnes of Skagway, AK, Anthony L. Vella, and Nicholas G. Vella of Mobile, 31 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers, Thomas L. Kelly, Jr. and William P. Kelly, and her sisters, Mildred Kelly Karcher all of Mobile and Dorothy Kelly Gilbert of Brookville, OH, nieces, nephews, and cousins including Rev. John Waters, S.J. of Denver, CO. Special thanks are extended to Mary Catherine's caregivers Dr. Thomas McGee, Frank Conwell, Altermese "Mese" Adams, Annie Smith, Andra Robertson, Karen Mosely and Spring Hill Home Health Services. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 A.M. on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. The family will receive visitors at the Church one hour prior to the Funeral Mass. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 2605 Spring Hill Avenue, Mobile, AL 36607 or the Sisters of the Visitation, 2300 Spring Hill Avenue, Mobile, AL 36607. Interment will be in Magnolia Cemetery.