June 25, 2012  

LOWVILLE, N.Y.  —  Norma K. Kelley, 83, of B. Arthur Road, died Monday afternoon, June 25, at her home, under the care of her family and Lewis County Hospice.

A funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 28, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Lowville, with Rev. Christopher Carrara, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Lowville Rural Cemetery.  A gathering at the Lowville VFW will follow the burial. Any food donations may be taken directly to the VFW after 10:00 a.m.  Calling hours are 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, at Iseneker Funeral Home, Inc., Lowville.

Born July 26, 1928, in Turin, a daughter of the late  Donald Kentner and Evelyn Higby Kentner Hines, she graduated from Turin High School.  

She married Francis J.“Pete” Kelley on Sept. 24, 1947, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Constableville, with Rev. Donald Kelly officiating.  

Together with her husband, the couple owned and operated a dairy farm in Martinsburg for 40 years. Mrs. Kelley worked for Lewis County Head Start for 20 years. Mr. Kelley died Feb. 19, 2008.

She was a communicant of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Lowville, and was an active contributor to church fundraising efforts.  She was an active member of the former Martinsburg Fire Department Auxiliary.

She enjoyed gardening, berry picking, cooking and was a lifetime lover of cats.  Family members and friends will always cherish her handmade quilts, slippers, dish towels and other crafts.

Surviving are 12 children and their spouses, John P. and Mary Kelley, Martinsburg, Kathleen Davis and her companion, Cork Bartlett, Theresa, David F. Kelley, Lowville, Sue Ellen Kelley, Carthage, Diane and Patrick Reape, Plant City, Fla., Teresa and Christopher Clark, Lowville, Donald G. Kelley, Lowville, Robert T. Kelley, Lowville, Michael J. and Windy Kelley, Old Forge, Lori and Steven Wilcox, Dexter, Peter J. and Lisa Kelley, Lowville, and Jodine and Mack Ford, Vine Grove, Kentucky; 24 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and cousins.  

She was predeceased by her husband, Francis J. “Pete” Kelley, a daughter, Jeanne Marie Kelley who died in 1965; and a great-grandson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fiends of Lewis County Hospice, P.O. Box 266, Lowville, NY 13367 or Martinsburg Fire Department, P.O. Box 143, Martinsburg, NY 13404.

Condolences may be made online at www.isenekerfuneralhome.com.






Information provided by Iseneker Funeral Home of Lowville and Newzjunky, Watertown, N.Y.