Obituary of Kathleen R Kelly

Kathleen Reddington Kelly, a longtime resident of West Caldwell, formerly of Montclair and Manasquan, passed away peacefully surrounded by friends and family on Monday, July 29, at the age of 68.

Born in Orange, New Jersey, to Mary and Frank Reddington, Kathleen was the middle child of five children. She spent the majority of her childhood in Manasquan. She loved the ocean, especially her favorite beach, Riddle Way. Kathleen attended St. Dennis Grammar School and later Manasquan HighSchool where she was the drum majorette in the marching band and participated in chorus and many school musicals.

After high school, Kathleen attended Mountainside Hospital School of Nursing, where she found her calling. Upon graduation, she worked as a nurse at Monmouth Medical Center and Mountainside Hospital. She became a visiting nurse and later a Home Health Care Coordinator with Patient Care. Most recently, she worked at Kessler Acute Rehab Hospital. Kathleen’s career spanned over 45 years, working up until her illness.

When Kathleen was not working and caring for others, she enjoyed taking walks, spending time with friends, fine dining, pickleball, traveling (especially to Marco Island), Broadway musicals, crime shows, baking, sweets, and a great cup of tea.

Above everything else, her primary interest was family. Kathleen married her husband Peter in 1985 after a ten year courtship! Two daughters followed to complete her family. While she had an immediate family of four, her extended family of sisters, brothers, in-laws, nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews totaled 70. She had a tremendous impact on everyone she touched and will be greatly missed.

Kathleen is survived by her husband Peter; her two daughters: Maura [Kelly] Reilly (Patrick) of Caldwell, NJ and Jacqueline [Kelly] Perez (David) of Caldwell, NJ; as well as three siblings: Patricia Reddington of Richmond, VA, Frank Reddington (Sandy) of Manasquan, NJ, and Michael Reddington (Sally) of Howell, NJ; and in-laws, Anthony Capone of Brick, NJ, Mary Franklin (Doug) of Maplewood, NJ, John Kelly of Carlsbad, CA, Christopher Kelly (Sue) of Cornwall, NY, Betty Ann Kelly (Steve) of Cranford, NJ, Thomas Kelly (Mary Ellen) of Livingston, NJ, Sue Kelly (Jim) of Aptos, CA, Margaret Kelly of Chatham, NJ, Katherine Kelly (Thomas) of Oradell, NJ, Jean Kelly Rowe (Jeff) of Madison, NJ, and Patricia Coley (Clark) of Campbell Hall, NY.

She was predeceased by her parents Mary and Frank Reddington, her father and mother-in-law Dolores and John Kelly, her sister Mary Beth Capone, and her sister-in-law Lisa Blaufuss.

In lieu of flowers, Kathleen has asked for donations to The Glioblastoma Research Organization, Columbia Presbyterian Neurology, or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

A viewing will be held on Monday (8/5) at The Hugh M. Moriarty Funeral Home in Montclair, NJ from 4-8 pm. Funeral mass will be held at Saint Aloysius Church in Caldwell, NJ at 10:30 am on Tuesday (8/6).