Kathleen Rose Kelly

Kathleen Rose Kelly, our beautiful, sweet Mom, passed away peacefully, after 98 years 7 months of giving to others and asking for nothing in return on July 23, 2025. An Angel on earth, Kathleen “Kitty/Kit” was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Edward J and Mary T Leonard on December 15, 1926.

Kitty was preceded in death by her husband James P Kelly, her parents, her brother Edward J. Leonard, her sister Ruth Grout, her sister Eleanor “Ellie”, a brother Francis Leonard and a sister Dorothy Leonard. She is survived by her son James Kelly (and Beth) of Annapolis, Maryland and her daughter Christine (and Mark) McMullan of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, as well as 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Kit was religiously faithful to God, her family and her country. She worked tirelessly from her teenage years until her mid-seventies, for family and to give back to others. She went back to school in her forties to become an LPN and then an RN graduating from Northeastern University with kids half her age. She served as a nurse for almost 25 years in that role as a compassionate, caring patient-first role model for the younger nurses. Well-liked by all whom she touched, she had a tremendous sense of humor, a beautiful smile and a most infectious, yet loud, laugh. In her eighties, after her husband Jim passed, her sister Ellie moved in and they spent 13 years side by her side daily, playing scrabble, bingo at the senior center, and attending Church.

Devoted Catholics, the Leonard sisters, moved in with Kit’s daughter Chris in 2016 where she lived a wonderful 10 years looking at the beautiful Colorado Mountains, knitting Irish knit sweaters and hats, playing scrabble and becoming a National Treasure to her family and those that loved her. She was a constant strength and the foundation for her family and she will be missed dearly.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday Aug. 23rd, 2025 at 10am in St. Margaret Mary Church, 845 High St., Westwood. Following the Mass, interment will take place at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, West Roxbury. There will be a reception for all who wish to attend at Waterford’s Restaurant and Bar, 2 Bridge St., Dedham 02026 at approximately 12:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kathleen’s memory to the Catholic Television Network, which she watched daily (EWTN- www.ewtn.com/giving) or a Catholic charity of your choice.