Obituary of Walter J. Kelly

Walter J. Kelly, 100, of Maplewood, N.J., passed away on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014, at home. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 217 Prospect Street, South Orange, N.J., on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 9:30 a.m. Interment is in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, N.J. Visitation will be held at The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, 2122 Millburn Ave., Maplewood, on Tuesday, from 4 to 7 p.m. For more information or to send condolences, please visit jacobhollefuneralhome.com. Born in South Orange, Walter lived in South Orange before moving to Maplewood for 57 years. He trained military dogs for the U.S. Army during World War II. Walter worked for Gefkin Florist in Maplewood from 1940 to 1962, and also Rimmele's Flower Shop in Union, N.J. He later worked in the Chubb Insurance maintenance department in Short Hills, N.J., and was superintendent of buildings for Our Lady of Sorrows from 1968 to 1978. Walter was the beloved husband of the late Grace Creed Kelly; devoted father of Kathleen Degnan, Joan Connolly, and James Kelly, and is also survived by six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105-1905 would be appreciated.