Obituary of Marilyn A. Kelly

Marilyn “Merle” Willinger Kelly, beloved Wife, Mother, Aunt and Grandmother, was lifted up on angel’s wings on May 6, 2020. She is predeceased by her parents Frank and Ethel Willinger, her beloved husband John D, (Jack) Kelly, her daughter-in-law Michele R. Kelly, her brothers Leonard (Vera) and Ronald (Helen) Willinger, her brothers and sisters-in-law Francis (Lucy), Kelly, Viola (Al) Goslin, Joe Suosso Sr, and Bernice Schuster. She is survived by her sister-in-law Pat Suosso. Remaining to mourn her are her children John D. (Dan) Kelly, Jr. and daughter-in-law Patricia Gorham, Timothy S. Kelly and his Mother-in-law Joan Durborow, Sean F. and daughter-in-law Erica J. Kelly. She is also survived by Granddaughters Samantha R. and Mairead (Maggie) E. Kelly and Grandson Thomas John (TJ) Kelly who were the lights of her life as well as many cousins, nephews, and nieces, all of whom she loved dearly. She also had great personal friends, Barbara and Bill Schuster, Ruth Janssen, Geri Wisniewski, Rose Gladwell, Dot Wisniewski and Marianne Patricella. She made friends easily and for those we forget to mention, know she loved you too. As a young woman she first worked at Mitchell-Bissell factory in Trenton and as a school crossing guard while her first two children were in school. She found her calling when she went to work for the New Jersey Department of Treasury’s Division of Taxation and during a twenty-year career there she rose to supervise the Tax Lobby of the Division’s Trenton Office. She made lifelong friendships there. Marilyn loved to read and had a passion for reading throughout her life. She sang soprano in the church choir of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. In later life, with the sponsorship and support of her sister-in law Bernice and daughter-in-law Erica, she converted to Catholicism. In both her Episcopalian and Roman Catholic affiliations, she was truly faithful and a dedicated churchgoer. She was a good cook and a wonderful baker, especially of cookies. She enjoyed giving gifts to those she loved and shopping, she never missed a good sale. In the last ten years, she got her passport and enthusiastically shared in family vacations across the Caribbean. She participated in her community; as a member of the Slackwood PTA and upon her retirement as the recording secretary of her senior citizens club. She had a passion for life, supported her family, and was proud of their accomplishments. She will never be forgotten by those who knew her. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, services to be held at the Funeral Home on Monday, May 11, 2020 will be private. She will be interred beside her husband at St Mary’s Cemetery, 1200 Cedar Lane, Hamilton Township, NJ 08610. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Donations may be made in Marilyn’s memory to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen 72 ½ Escher S., Trenton, NJ 08609 or to a charity of the donor’s choosing.