M. Lorraine Kennelly

She was born in rural Waucoma, Iowa, May 9, 1913, the daughter of William and Josephine (Heatherton) Shekleton.

She graduated high school in Lawler, Iowa in 1930, then she trained as a bookkeeper and airline agent. She married Jerauld “Jerry” Zender Kennelly in 1943 in Colorado Springs where Jerry was in the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale and serving in Germany during WWII.

Before moving to Keene, she previously lived and worked in various Iowa towns, including Independence, Tama, Cresco and Lawler, and was employed in various office and insurance positions until her retirement in 1977.

Family and friends were the web of life for her, and she treasured many dear friends and neighbors over the years. She was a devoted Catholic with a love of learning, education, music and travel.

In recent years, Mrs. Kennelly resided at Genesis Healthcare in Keene. The remarkable staff at Genesis embraced her, won her over, and supported her with love and caring in her final days. Her family is deeply grateful for their love, friendship and constant care.

She is the loving mother of Kathleen Anne Long of Saxton’s River, VT, J. Michael Kennelly and his wife, Kim, of Keene, Sheila K. McGinnis and her husband, David, of Billings, MT; grandmother to Sara Alderfer and her husband, Ben, of Keene, Mary Dean and her husband, Chris, of Canton CN, Erin Kennelly of Keene, Megan Kennelly of New York City, Elizabeth Long of Washington, DC, Jeremiah Long and his wife, Nancy, of St. Louis, MO, and a doting great-grandmother of six cherubs. She is also survived by her beloved sister, Dorothy Denner of New Hampton, IA, and a treasured set of nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews who brought her great joy. She was predeceased by her darling husband, Jerry; two sisters, Anna Wicks and her husband, Eddie of Decorah IA, Madonna Laures and her husband, Clem of New Hampton; three brothers, Raymond Shekleton of Lawler, IA, John Shekleton and his wife, Dorothy, of St. Paul, MN, and Glenn Shekleton and his wife, Harriet, of Minneapolis, MN.

A celebration of Mrs. Kennelly’s life will be held Sunday, March 30, 2014 from 2:00 to 3:30 PM in the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene.

A memorial mass will be celebrated in St. Margaret Mary Church, Keene, at a later date, in addition to other celebrations of life to be held later this summer in Vermont and Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mrs. Kennelly’s memory to the Alzheimers Association, Mass. & NH Chapter, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472, or to the American Heart Association Northeast Affiliate, Two Wall Street, Manchester, NH 03101.