Helen Eileen Kelly

Eileen was born on born October 11, 1937, in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania to Edward and Margaret (Young) Keenan. Eileen was a graduate of Woodbury College in Los Angeles, California in 1957. She worked at Price Waterhouse where she met her husband, Bob. Eileen married Robert P. Kelly on October 8, 1960, in Los Angeles, California. They moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1961 and to McLean, Virginia in 1973, but Phoenix remained an important community in their lives.

Eileen was a devoted wife and mother. She was a confidant, a friend, a partner, and a champion. She was more than a grandmother -- she was Grandy. She enjoyed discovering the unique personalities of each grandchild, and they adored her. Eileen found humor no matter the setting or circumstance. She was famous for getting the giggles at the most inopportune times. A sense of humor and thick skin are must haves at the Kelly family dinner table.

Eileen was a competitor on the tennis court, golf course and at the bridge table. She developed a large network of friendships in both Virginia and Arizona. She was the coordinator, scheduler and host for countless social gatherings. She provided amazing leadership for organizations like Florence Crittenden in both Phoenix and in Washington, DC; Northern Virginia Service League where she served as president, Junior League of Northern Virginia and she chaired the Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington ball and the Hospice Care of Northern Virginia ball.

Eileen is survived by her husband of almost 62 years, Robert P. Kelly; her children, Colleen Cibula of Germantown, Maryland; Francine (Peter) Gilbert of Lexington, Kentucky; and Robert P. (Shawn) Kelly, Jr of Alexandria, Virginia; her grandchildren, Lindsey and Jack Cibula, Nicholas and Meredith Gilbert, and Katherine (Jack) Shaffer; Charleston, Declan, and Robert P. Kelly, III; and her sister, Margaret (Gerald) Huber of La Verne, California. Proceeding her in death are her parents and her son-in-law, David Cibula.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Visitation on Monday, August 8th at 10 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM at St. Luke Catholic Church, 7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean, Virginia 22101. Burial will follow Mass at Columbia Gardens Cemetery, 3411 Arlington Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22201.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington (P.O. Box 1900, Merrifield, Virginia 22116-1900 or at www.ccda.net) or Goodwin House Foundation (4800 Fillmore Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22311 with Hospice in memo line or [email protected]).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.murphyfuneralhomes.com for the Kelly family.