April 8, 1934 – June 14, 2023
Joan M. (McDonald) Kelley, of Doylestown, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at her longtime home.
She was predeceased by her parents, Lt Commander Francis and Gertrude (Meleady) McDonald, and her husband, Edward A. Kelley. Joan is survived by her sons, Stephen M. Kelley (Kathy) of Asbury, NJ, Shaun E. and Linda F. Kelley, of Cape May Court House, and David F. Kelley of Lawrenceville, NJ; her brother, Francis “Jack” McDonald, Jr. of Osterville MA; her six grandchildren, Colleen, Erin, Emily, Brenden, Edward and Katelynn. Joan will also be missed by many close friends from Doylestown, PA and across the country who knew her well.
Born in Boston, MA, she was raised in Winthrop, MA at her beloved family home on Bartlett St. She graduated from Winthrop High School, Class of 1952, and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Tufts University in 1956. She met her beloved husband Ed (who was in the Air Force stationed at Hanscom AFB). They married and became Mr. and Mrs. Edward A Kelley April 27, 1958. Joan taught 1st Grade in Reading, MA, and the young couple bought a home, and Ed attended Harvard Business School on her teacher’s salary. Ed graduated from Harvard Business School’s class of 1961. They spent a brief time in New Jersey, where their oldest son Stephen was born. They moved to Doylestown, where Shaun and David were born, and Ed worked for Merck.
Joan adored her three boys despite sometimes being overwhelmed by a house of active young men. Unconditional love, a good work ethic, and loyalty were always stressed in the household. She led by example after her husband’s premature death from Lung Cancer at age 54, she started a new career with Merck, Sharp and Dome as a Sales Rep. She worked full time until age 76 in 2010.
She had a companion, Robert Hutchison, Sr., during this time of her life. They had many wonderful times attending family functions and traveling the world. Robert (Bob) became a beloved surrogate grandfather to four of her grandchildren before his passing in 2003.
Joan adored her Grandchildren in her later life above all else and made a point of overwhelming them with love, presents and fun activities. Collen, Erin, Emily and Katelynn were one of the joys of her life for the girls she never had. Brenden and Edward were no less adored and spoiled by her.
In the later years of her life she read voraciously both fiction and non-fiction. She became obsessed with remembering her parents’ sacrifices during the Depression and World War II. She could not get enough knowledge of the war and her father’s service, particularly his time in the Pacific during the last years of the war.
Joan and many close friends of the Kelley’s have been affected by cancer and she also gave to veterans groups in her life.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in Joan M. Kelley’s name to the Travis Manion Foundation by visiting: https://www.travismanion.org/ or the American Cancer Society by visiting: https://www.cancer.org/
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on July 22, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Church, 235 E State St, Doylestown, PA 18901.
Cremation was private.
