Edward Francis Kelly, Jr., aged 82, passed away on Monday, October 23, 2017 after a brief illness. He leaves his wife of 57 years, Josephine (Spirito) Kelly; his sons, Edward and John A. Kelly; six grandchildren; and many friends. Edward was born and raised in Elizabeth, the son of Edward F. Kelly, Sr. and Angela Kelly. At the age of 18, he became a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus, and served as a past Grand Knight, past Faithful Navigator, and a former District Deputy. In addition, he was a past Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Edward was particularly proud of his service in the United States Marine Corps (1956-1958). The discipline and patriotism he learned in the Corps never left him, as friends and family will attest. Between 1962 and 1989, Edward worked as a professional fi refi ghter for the City of Elizabeth, most of those years with Rescue Company #1. He retired at the rank of Captain. In 1989 he and his wife, Josephine, moved to Sarasota, Florida, at which time he took a position as security guard in the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Department. Upon returning to live in New Jersey in the late 1990s, Edward joined the Security Department at Community Medical Center in Toms River. A genuinely helpful man by nature, he loved socializing and being around people. Eventually he gave up his duties as a security guard, serving as a hospital greeter until shortly before his death at the age of 82. The viewing will be held at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home in Livingston on Thursday, October 26, from 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. Friday, October 27, at St. Raphael Roman Catholic Church in Livingston.
...
