Barbara Mary Kelly

Waltham - Mrs. Barbara M. (Collins) Kelly, of Waltham, died Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at her home. She was 81.

Barbara was born in Newton on July 15, 1929, a daughter of the late William and Kathryn (Keating) Collins, and had been a Waltham resident for the past fifty-five years. She was a 1947 graduate of Newton High School and had worked for ten years for the New England Telephone Company as a repair clerk.

Barbara loved spending time with her family, especially at her home and during vacations to Cape Cod. She was a former member of the Wayside Choral Group and also enjoyed ice skating, playing tennis and reading.

She leaves her husband of fifty-four years, John W. ‘Jack’ Kelly, her children, John J. Kelly of Acton, Daniel W. Kelly and his wife, Linda, of Franklin, William P. Kelly and his wife, Julie of Natick, Brian P. Kelly and his wife, Nadine, of West Barnstable, and Rosemary Kelly and her partner, David, of Natick, one brother, William Collins and his wife, Rita, of Framingham, her sister-in law Patricia Tietz of Indiana, and was the loving “Grammy” to D.J., Courtney, Patrick, Christopher, Cameron, Rainey, Molly, Casey, and Caitlyn. She also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends.

Barbara was the sister of the late Donald Collins and sister-in-law of the late Alice Collins and William Tietz.

Family and friends will honor and remember Barbara’s life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, (Rte.20), Waltham on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 460 Trapelo Road, Suite 400, Waltham, MA 02451 or to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.