Suzanne (aka Susan) C. Kelly, 95, of Chatham, passed away peacefully at home in Chatham with her family by her side on January 13, 2023. Suzanne was born in Alost, Belgium on August 6, 1927 to the late Raymond and Marie De Schaepdryver. She was the 6th of 9 children.
Her grandmother, who lived on a farm outside of town, died the day WWII started in Belgium. Suzanne was a young girl of 12 at this time. The family was required to house German soldiers in their home during the war. However, the German soldiers did not occupy the grandmother’s farm so the family used this farm to hide resistance fighters. Suzanne’s father and brother fought in the war and both survived.
The war years taught Suzanne many valuable lessons about the importance of family, love, perseverance, and strength of will. After the war years Suzanne continued her studies and graduated from the University of Louvain in Belgium with a Master’s degree. She worked from 1949-1953 as a physical therapist in Kwatrecht, Belgium, in an institute for girls with a variety of neurological conditions and/or disabilities.
She then met and married the late John W. Kelly, an American engineer working for an international company. During their worldwide travels, she bore and raised 6 children. Each of her children were born in a different state or country. She was a beloved wife for 58 years and the most amazing, loving mother. With each of her husband’s new projects, he would leave to start the project and begin the search for a new home. She would pack up the current home and with the children would move to the new location. Occasionally the family was in a hotel for months while searching for a home that would accommodate. This meant meals in elegant restaurants with young children. Suzanne was a loving mother but maintained discipline. One look and her children knew she meant business thereby immediately halting whatever they were doing that she didn’t like.
Suzanne loved to travel and her study/knowledge of languages was instrumental to the family during those travels. She loved life, her family, ballet, classical music - especially Haydn and Mozart, and gymnastics. In 1949 she carried the Belgian flag and competed in the Lingiade - a gymnastics competition held in Sweden. To all who knew her, she was recognized for her grace, elegance, and kindness.
She is survived by two sisters Cecile Wayne and Claire Wautier, and 5 of her 6 children - Patricia Kelly and husband Joe Lettiere of Mashpee, MA, Anthony Kelly and wife Deirdre Kelly of Flourtown, PA, John Kelly and wife Denice Kelly of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Anne (Mimi) Kelly of Chatham, MA, and Christopher Kelly of Missouri City, TX. Suzanne’s 2nd daughter Kathleen Kelly McCool passed away in 2022.
Suzanne is also survived by her cherished grandchildren Michael Kelly, Jennifer Kelly, Megan Lettiere, Sean Kelly, Stephen Kelly, Colin Kelly, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends.
Relatives and Friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life gathering on Friday, January 20th, from 8:30 - 9:30am at the Nickerson Funeral Home, 87 Crowell Road, Chatham, MA. This will be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am at Holy Redeemer Church, Highland Avenue, Chatham, MA. The burial will then take place at Union Cemetery, Chatham, MA.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in her name to the National MS Society, 1100 New York Avenue NW, Suite 440-E, Washington DC, 20005, or you may visit at www.nationalmssociety.org
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