William J. Kelley, Jr., age 92, of Milton, formerly of Roslindale, died on November 27, 2021. Beloved son of William J. Kelley Sr. and Margaret (Gilraine) Kelley of Dorchester. Beloved husband of Marjorie E. (Carr) Kelley. Loving father of Mary Donovan and her husband Edward of Maryland, Francie Kelley and her husband Quentin Fennessy of Belmont, Patricia Kelley-Borchert and her husband Robert Borchert, Jr. of Connecticut and Joan Shobbrook and her husband Timothy of Plymouth. Brother of the late Paul Kelley. Grandfather of Maura Donovan, Eileen Donovan, Colleen Fennessy, Liam Fennessy (deceased), Alex Croom and her husband Patrick, Tara Borchert, Rosemary Shobbrook, and James Shobbrook. Great grandfather of Eleanor, Margaret, and Michael Croom.
Bill was raised in Dorchester and attended St. Peter’s Elementary School and Mission High School. While at Mission he began working at Boston Symphony Hall, an experience that led to a lifelong love of all types of music. After graduating from Boston College with a BS in mathematics he pursued graduate work in the same field. His studies were interrupted by the Korean Conflict when he joined the US Air Force and trained as a meteorologist. After serving for four years, he returned to Boston and began a successful business career. He earned an MBA from Northeastern University and held positions at Simplex Wire and Cable, Standard Thompson, and Compo Industries, (later Ausimont). In 1957 he married the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Marjorie Carr. This beautiful marriage lasted 64 years and produced four daughters.
In the early 1980s Bill’s career sent him to Huizen, the Netherlands, where he and Marjorie lived and worked for two exciting years. Dozens of their friends and family visited them as they traveled all over Europe and created memories to last a lifetime.
As a member of St. Andrew’s Parish, Bill served for over 30 years as a Eucharistic Minister and member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. In addition, he served several terms on the parish council and school board. He was an equally active member of Sacred Heart Parish in his later years.
After returning home from Europe Bill enjoyed retirement, trips to his condo in Florida, and his grandchildren. All his life he loved reading, the weather, travel, classical music, golf, the Red Sox, good coffee, current events, BC football, and Brigham’s ice cream. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word, kind to the marrow of his being, and a champion of all the women and men in his life. He was admired for his intelligence, love of his family, and devotion to duty. He spent the last afternoon of his life holding hands with his beloved Margie while visited by family, and died peacefully the next morning. For an example of a life well lived look no further, as a finer man never drew breath.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Anne's Church 90 W Milton St, Readville on Monday December 6 at 11:30 am. Relatives and friends are invited to attend and may visit with his family at the church from 10:30 am - 11:30 prior to the Mass. Interment, Mount Calvary Cemetery, Roslindale. US Airforce Veteran. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's memory may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society 18 Canton St, Stoughton, MA. 02072. To view the funeral remotely on Face Book please like and follow Blue Hills Catholic Collaborative. The video will begin at 11:30. For guest book condolences please visit www.bradyfallon.com