Ettie Kelly
(née Gillen)

Ettie Kelly (née Gillen)

Sligo and California, U.S.A.

On the Feast Day of St. Anthony, June 13, 2025, our beloved Mom, Ettie Kelly, passed from this life as suddenly as she lived it fully—surrounded by love, and held in grace.

A wife of unwavering devotion, a mother whose love knew no bounds, a grandmother who carried each grandchild close to her heart—quite literally, on the necklace she wore every day. Ettie was the quiet center of a large and vibrant family, the place where stories began and hearts came home.

Raised in Carraroe, County Sligo Ireland, the eldest of seven children to Peter and Josephine Gillen, Ettie learned early the strength of family, the dignity of hard work, and the beauty of faith. In 1960, she crossed the ocean to join her future husband, Tony, who had gone ahead to build their new life in America. Together, they built a home in New York, raised four children—Jo Anne Kelly Richards (Kevin), Jackie Kelly, Tony Kelly (Susan), and Jannine Strumpfler (Scott)—and created a life rich in memory and meaning.

She returned briefly to Ireland with her young family in the 1970s before settling back in Seaford, Long Island, where they remained for nearly 50 years. Their home became more than just an address—it was a shelter, a sanctuary, and a source of steady warmth. Ettie’s dining room table always had room for one more, even when there was little to spare. She was a mother not only to her own, but to anyone in need of a place to be seen, fed, or quietly loved.

Her grandchildren—Connor, Grant, Orla, TJ, Aidan, Maeve, and Keira—were her crown jewels, each one a joy she celebrated daily. To them, she was a storyteller, a cheerleader, and a constant.

Petite in form but formidable in spirit, Ettie could still a room with a glance, and lift a heart with a word. Her standards were high—shaped by struggle and sacrifice—but her heart was endlessly forgiving. She didn’t suffer fools, but she held the broken-hearted close.

In her professional life, Ettie nurtured generations through her work at a nursery school, where she became a second mother to countless children. Her wisdom was quiet, her presence comforting, and her laughter unforgettable.

She is survived by her cherished siblings, Ronnie and Kitty, whom she loved and looked after all her days. She was predeceased by her brothers Peter (Buddy), Jerry, John (Noel), and her sister Anne Clancy. The family who goes before her—and the many she leaves behind—remain bound by the legacy of her care.

In 2020, Ettie and Tony moved to California to be near their son and his family during the pandemic. In 2021, they made their home in Rossmoor California, where they found new friends and community at The Waterford. Since Tony’s passing just seven months ago, Ettie carried her grief with grace, lifted by the kindness of those around her.

Her story is one of fierce love, quiet courage, and everyday generosity. We will miss her steady voice, her Irish wit, and the warmth that lingered long after a hug or a word of advice.

Ettie leaves us not with silence, but with echoes of a life beautifully lived.

Funeral Arrangement in Sligo will be announced later.

Condolence messages can be placed at the obituary column on www,feehilys.ie, below on rip.ie or by traditional manner.

 

All enquiries to Seán Feehily's Funeral Home, Cartron Cross, Sligo F91EH98

Phone 071/9159999..