Obituary of Margaret Heffernan Kelly

Magaret H. Kelly April 8, 1932 - April 16, 2020 Margaret "Peggy" Heffernan Kelly, 88, passed away April 16, 2020. She is survived by her three sons- Kenneth (Kerry) Kelly, Raymond (Kelly) Kelly, Michael (Patti) Kelly and daughter - Mary Beth Seamands, as well as numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Peggy is preceded in death by her husband, Fred Kelly, granddaughter Meghan Kelly and grandson Frederick Kelly. She was born in Bridgeport, CT to the late Raymond and Anne Heffernan, and met Fred when she was only 17 years old. They married and after Fred's time in the Army, the young couple lived in Stratford, where she raised her children, until 1970. Because of her debilitating Rheumatoid Arthritis, the family packed up and moved to the milder Arizona weather. Peggy loved Arizona. She thrived in the climate and as her chldren grew, Peggy joined the workforce. She was a medical secretary for Drs. Weich and Bernstein for many years. She loved her job, her employers and coworkers and had many lifelong friendships and memories from her career. Peggy was happy to have a career as her children grew, but her greatest job was being Fred's wife. Married for 65 years, the couple still held hands, and Fred referred to Peggy as his "bride". Other than her marriage, Peggy was devoted to her grandchildren. As they grew and moved away, Peggy learned enough about technology to FaceTime them so she could still keep in touch. Peggy was a devout Catholic and was very proud of their time at St.Elizabeth Ann Seton church, whose street is named after her husband, Fred Kelly. Peggy was a beautiful and strong woman. She handled her disablling arhtritis with dignity and never complained. She taught her children the same tenacity and perseverance. For the last year of her life, Peggy lived with her son Ken and daughter in law Kerry. She vowed she would regain her strength so she could live independently again. She was a fighter. In light of the current world situation, the family is holding a small service Thursday, April 23 at 10 AM at Holy Hope Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed to any of Peggy's favorite charities, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, The Shriners or Wounded Warriors.