Mary Winnifred Kelly

Mary Winnifred Kelly, age 86 of Huntersville, NC, passed away peacefully at Levine Dickson Hospice House August 15, 2016. Mary was born January 14, 1930 in Fargo, ND to the late Francis and Mary Kelly. After graduating from Sacred Heart Academy where she formed life-long friends, Mary earned her nursing degree at St. Joseph’s School of Nursing and began a career in Public Health.

In 1950 she married the love of her life, William Robert Kelly. They spent 29 active years together until his death in 1980. They started their family in Grand Forks, ND where Mary worked in Labor & Delivery at St. Michael’s Hospital. She served as Cub Scout and Girl Scout troop leader. Her hobbies included Bridge and gardening. She especially loved growing peonies, sweet peas, and rhubarb, which she used in her famously delicious pies.

In 1966 the family moved to Escanaba, MI, becoming involved in St. Anne Parish and St. Francis Hospital. In November of 1972 Bill’s work with NCR transferred them to Lansing, MI, where Mary worked part-time in the St. Lawrence Hospital Alcohol Treatment Center. In 1975 the couple purchased the ScrubBoard Laundromat in Grayling, MI and worked together promoting their business endeavor. They were leaders in the community serving at St. Mary’s Parish, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce and American Business Women’s Association.

After her husband Bill’s death, Mary moved back to Lansing, MI and resumed her Nursing career, first at Family Medical Weight Loss Center and ultimately at Hospice of Lansing until her retirement in 2005. Her work with the dying and their loved ones was her most fulfilling occupation, so she continued comforting families as a Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte volunteer after moving to NC in 2006.  

Mary will be remembered for her generosity. She knitted countless prayer shawls and brought comfort to many people suffering through pain or illness. She created beautiful heirloom quilts for her children and grandchildren, and even helped one of her hospice patients create a “John Deere” quilt for her grandson. She passed on her love of reading to all of her children and hosted Birkdale Village Book Club for her neighbors. She continued her mother’s bread baking tradition and donated many loaves to the St. Mark bake sale. Her famous thumbprint cookies, pies, rolls and Irish stew were enjoyed by many of her friends and family.

Left to cherish her memory are her children; Helen (Scott) Carter, Kathleen (Steve) Leonardi, K.C. (Lisa) Kelly, Colleen (Dan) Siadak, Chad (Lisa) Kelly, Ann Marie (Dave) Malm, Eileen (Steve) Nelis, 19 grandchildren Scott (Nadine) Carter, Sean (Aimie) Leonardi, & Erin Leonardi, Joshua and Cailin Kelly, Kelly (Mike) Bosche, Danny (Stephanie) Siadak, Tina (Chris) Ollenburg, Ben (Mimi) Siadak, Patrick, Caitlin and Scott Kelly, Andrea, Kara, and Meagan Malm, Molly (Danny) Sing, Colleen (Matt) Kirkendale, Kathleen and Michael Nelis, and 12 great grandchildren, her brother Larry (Arlene) Kelly and her sisters-in-law Delores (Jack) Kelly and Agnes (Jerry) Kelly and her brothers-in-law Jim & Charles (Avis) Kelly.

The funeral Mass will be Thursday August 18, 2016 at 11:00 am at St. Mark Catholic Church in Huntersville, NC.

Memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Charlotte, NC.  hpccr.com 

The family has entrusted arrangements to Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home. Friends may off condolences to www.raymerfh.com