March 7, 2008  

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  —  Joseph M. Kelly Sr., 81, of Winthrop Street, died Friday morning, March 7, at his home.

Calling hours will be held 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, March 10, at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., 214 Sterling St., Watertown. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home on 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, followed by a 10 a.m. funeral Mass celebrated at St. Patrick's Church with Rev. Steven Murray, pastor of Holy Family Church, officiating. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, town of Watertown.

Born June 5, 1926, in Watertown, the son of Michael J. and Mira Shaughnessy Kelly, he graduated from Immaculate Heart Academy in 1944.

He entered the Navy on May 4, 1944. He received the American Theatre Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged as an aviation machinist's mate third-class on June 18, 1946.

He married Mary Margaret Burns on June 24, 1950, at St. Patrick's Church with Fr. Edward Burns, her cousin, officiating.

He received a B. A. in physics from St. Lawrence University in 1950, and his masters in education from Clarkson University in 1968.

He was a physics teacher at Watertown High School for 34 years, retiring in 1985.

He was a communicant of Holy Family Church and was a Eucharistic Minister. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 259, the American Legion Post 61, the New York State Retired Teacher's Association, and was a board member of the Neighbors of Watertown.

He enjoyed working with stained glass and was an accomplished woodworker. He also enjoyed summer at Vance Shores in Sackets Harbor, and had wintered in Panama City Beach, Fla., for 10 years.

Besides his wife, Mary Margaret, he is survived by his four daughters and two sons-in-law, Mary Ann and Robert J. Smith, Lafayette, Ind., Margaret E. Wardwell and Maureen V. Kelly, both of Watertown, and Erin P. and George J. Hanhauser, Langhorne, Pa.; his three sons and two daughters-in-law, J. Martin and Laura W. Kelly, Ithaca, Kevin J. Kelly, New York City, and Sean F. and Julie P. Kelly, Watertown; 16 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Two brothers, Michael J. and Thomas A. Kelly, died before him.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Holy Family Church, Stained Glass Window In Memory of Joseph M. Kelly, Sr., 129 Winthrop St., Watertown, N.Y. 13601.

Obituary provided by Cummings Funeral Service and Newzjunky.com, Watertown, N.Y.