Eileen Kelley

Eileen Marie Kelley (nee Devitt), 87, of Park Ridge, at The Residence and formerly of New Milford, NJ, passed away on May 11, 2026. Born in Brooklyn, Eileen lived in Gerritsen Beach and then moved to Fair Lawn, NJ. She graduated from Catherine McAuley High School and went on to work at New York Life. Later in life, Eileen attended Bergen Community College where she studied, French, music, and art. She also was a clothing representative for the Carlisle Collection for many years.

Eileen had an energy to her own and was incredibly artistic, creative and resourceful. Her interest in fashion, decorating and crafts was well known to her family and friends. Her hand- made birthday cards were always a treasured gift to their recipients. Eileen’s room-decorating skills were sought out by many; she could make a room look stylish on a budget.

Eileen was a devoted mother and sister. Growing up as the oldest of seven, Eileen cared for her brothers and sister. The Devitt home was the site of many large family parties with Irish music playing, shuffleboard, basketball and plain Irish fare. Eileen cherished being a grandmother. She loved being with her grandchildren and helping them with school projects. She passed on her love of tea, cookies, antiques and art to many. Eileen had many life-long friends, Roni, Millie, Rita, Gloria, and Nora in addition to friends on Holland Avenue, and at The Residence of Park Ridge.

She is survived by her daughter, Cecilia McKenney, her husband, Joseph, her son, John Kelley, his wife Christine, and grandchildren Grace, Eleanor and Julia. She is also survived by her cousins, Geraldine (nee Grennan and like a sister to her) and James Tanajewski, Ginny Lucey, Matthew and Janet Grennan, Mary (nee Lucey) and Art Smith, Berenice Meehan, her brother, Kevin Devitt and wife, Judy, her niece, Shannon Knobel and nephews, Christopher Garland, Patrick Devitt, and Raymond Henderson.

She was predeceased by her parents, Patrick and Kathleen (nee Grennan) Devitt, and her brothers, Patrick, John, Thomas, and Michael and her sister, Kathleen and most recently her dear cousin, Neil Lucey and many other cousins.

There will be a funeral mass at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Oradell, NJ on Thursday, May 14 at 10:00 AM. The interment will follow at Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Eileen’s memory to St. Joseph’s Health Foundation. Eileen received amazing care from St. Joseph’s University Medical Center.

Donations can be given at www.givetostjosephs.org/donations/ or by sending a check to St Joseph’s Health Foundation, PO Box 29000, Newark, NJ 07101. Please note Eileen Kelley in the memo portion.

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