Webster/Hopkinton - Leone (Kelley) Burns, 87, died Thursday, September 1, 2022 at Christopher Heights Assisted Living in Webster with her family at her side. Her husband of 42 years, Robert C. Burns died in 1997, 25 years and one day before Kelley’s passing.
She leaves 3 children; Terrence D. Burns of Plainville, Patti A. Burns Ente and her husband Dana of Boylston, and Sarah J. Hutchinson and her husband William of Dudley, 4 grandchildren; Eric B. Ente and his partner Monica Chiang of Watertown, Lauren M. Nascimento and her husband Eduardo of San Diego, CA, and Samuel W. and Hannah L. Hutchinson, both of Dudley. Kelley’s younger brother, Scott B. Kelley also predeceased her.
She was born on July 24, 1935 in Boston and raised in Milton, the daughter of John L. and Georgia (DeLue) Kelley and graduated from Milton High School in 1953. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications from Curry College where she met her husband, and they married September 10, 1955. She lived in Hopkinton for over 50 years before moving to the Residence at Valley Farm in Ashland for 3 years. She had lived at Christopher Heights since January.
She worked a number of jobs in her lifetime starting in a bakery shop in Mattapan, secretary at Lam-Pin Corporation in Hopkinton, children’s librarian at Hopkinton Public Library, secretary at Zayre’s offices in Framingham and payroll at B.J.’s Wholesale Club. Of all the positions she held, the ones she most relished were those of mother, wife, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, grandmother and friend.
Kell had a magical touch when it came to gardening, and a flair for arranging the beautiful gems she chose from all her gardens. She was very artistic by nature; sewing, braiding rugs, stenciling walls and throwing, glazing and firing her own pottery, which she sold at several PolyArts Festivals. She also had a love of reading and traveling. After retiring, she visited many places including Alaska, China, South America and the Panama Canal. If you were lucky enough to sample her cooking, you’d have been delighted. Around the holidays, she worked her fingers to the bone preparing multiple pies for family gatherings.
Arrangements are under the direction of Sitkowski, Malboeuf & Hickey Funeral Home, Inc. of Webster. Services will be private. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Jewish Healthcare Hospice, 646 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01609.