Obituary of Claire R. Kelly

CLAIRE R KELLY Denville Township Clerk Age 101 Denville Claire R Kelly passed away Wednesday April 25th after a short illness. She was born in Newark, NJ and has been a longtime resident of Denville since 1935. Claire served as Denville Township Clerk for 27 years before retiring in 1972. During her years of service, Denville showed a dramatic growth especially in the 1950’s and 1960’s. She was instrumental in making many things happen during this period. She was a pivotal member of Denville burgeoning government, elected temporary and then permanently as Township Clerk. She was very proud to have been a part of Denville and the community. John her husband of 35 years also worked for the town and died in 1978. During their years of retirement they traveled and enjoyed the warmer weather. Claire, the mother of 3, grandmother of 7, and great-grandmother of 5 was always the nucleus of the family. Not only was she the center for her family, she was there for each one of them. Many of her family lived in her house at one time or other. She loved to knit and crochet and handcrafted over 100 afghan quilts in her lifetime. Claire in predeceased by her Husband John, and is survived by her daughters Nancy Plympton, and Marilyn Buccellati, her husband Giorgio, her son John and his wife Betty, 7 grandchildren: Patricia, Anne, John, Suzanne, Maria, Federico, and Christopher and 5 great grandchildren: Jake, Ailysh, Brooke, Taylor, and Nicholas. Funeral from the Norman Dean Home for Services 16 Righter Ave. Denville, NJ www.normandean.com on Monday April 30, 2012 at 9:00 AM for a 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial Service at St. Mary’s Church in Denville. Friends may visit with the family on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Donations are being accepted to Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Joseph’s Home 140 Shepherd Lane. Totowa, NJ 07512. Please share a memory of Claire by lighting a candle on our site.