William Jeremiah Kelly

Bill is survived by his wife of 52 years Alice Kelly (nee McKenna), his daughter, Mary Alice Campbell and her husband Seamus of Sparta, NJ, his son Michael Kelly and his wife Lorraine of Phoenixville, PA, his grandchildren, Grace, Maura, and Jane Campbell, Jack, Owen, and Bridget Kelly (he was their “Papa”), and an extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was predeceased by his parents Mary V. Kelly and John Kelly.

Bill was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and was proud of it! He graduated from St. John’s Prep High School in 1961, served in the Army National Guard and worked for over 40 years in the electrical industry. He and Alice moved to Westfield, NJ in 1969 where they lived for 40 years. In 2010, they retired to Upper Lake Mohawk in Sparta, NJ.

Bill was as an active original member of St. Helen’s Church in Westfield from the time of its unofficial founding in 1970 until 2010. He and his wife Alice assisted in raising funds for the building of St. Helen’s, and Bill founded the St. Helen’s Basketball League upon the completion of the Parish Center building. The program ultimately served hundreds of parish youth. Until the time of his death he was a parishioner at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Sparta.

To say that Bill was the consummate caregiver would be an understatement. He and his wife dedicated many years of their lives caring for their parents. He frequently, and quietly, performed hundreds of good deeds, supported family members, and donated to many charities of interest. He also boasted (not so quietly) about the accomplishments of his grandchildren, from whom he derived enormous amounts of joy.

Bill spent his free time meticulously fine-tuning the family tree, watching the NY Yankees, Giants, Knicks, and Rangers with his wife, and enjoying the view of the lake from their deck. Their home is both a quiet, beautiful escape, and an active playground for their six grandchildren to enjoy family activities and great memories.

Bill was 100% devoted to his wife, children, and grandchildren – he leaves behind a legacy of caring and giving to family and beyond.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 1, 2021, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Goble Funeral Home, 22 Main Street, Sparta, NJ 07871. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, September 2, 2021, at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of the Lake Church, 294 S Sparta Ave., Sparta, NJ 07871. Interment will take place at Good Shepherd Cemetery, Airport Rd, Green Twp., NJ 07821.

The family asks that any desired donations be submitted to National PKU Alliance (NPKUA) in his name - https://www.npkua.org/Forms/General-Donation.

The family is requesting that attendees wear masks.