He was the beloved husband of the late Gertrude “Trudy” (Bouthillier) Kelly. Joseph was also predeceased by his sons, Thomas Hone and Kevin Kelly; his sister, Barbara (Kelly) Bryand and her husband, Bill. He is survived by his daughter, Christine Melone and her husband, Frank; his son, John Kelly and his wife, Karen; his grandchildren, Angelique, Frank, AnnMarie, Thomas and Michael; his many beloved great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Joseph proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953 and received two bronze service stars. He continued supporting his fellow veterans as a member of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 21.
He spent his career working as a machinist and tool maker in the historic Providence jewelry and metal works industry. He worked for Marvel Jewelry and Speidel Textron and took tremendous pride in his work and in the trade to which he devoted fifty years.
As a young man, Joseph loved horses and gave horseback riding lessons. Throughout his life he was an avid sports fan, especially of the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox. He also enjoyed walking and remained active whenever he could.
Joseph was strong-willed and deeply devoted to his family and faith. He was a dedicated parishioner of Saint Edward’s Church in Providence. He will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew him. His memory will live on in the hearts of those fortunate enough to have shared in his life, leaving behind a lifetime of memories, love, and stories that his family will cherish for generations to come.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, starting at 11:00 AM in the PONTARELLI-MARINO HOME, 971 Branch Avenue, Providence, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Saint Anthony Church, 1413 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence. Burial with military honors will be in the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, https://www.stjude.org/ in his memory would be appreciated.
For online tributes and condolences, please visit www.pontarellimarinofunerals.com
