Mrs. Teresa Flanagan Kelly, 93, of White’s Neck Road, Parksley, passed away at home surrounded by family Monday, June 22, 2020.
She was born to Patrick and Margaret Flanagan in New York City, where she grew up. She graduated from St. Vincent’s School of Nursing in Manhattan. She then went on to have a long career serving her communities as a nurse. She worked at Long Island Jewish Hospital, New Hyde Park, N.Y., Eastern Long Island Hospital, Greenport, N.Y., and Shore Memorial Hospital in Nassawadox. Much of her career was spent as an emergency room nurse and she was well-known for her professionalism, composure under pressure, and compassion.
Teresa was a dedicated wife and mother. She met her late husband Thomas Kelly, a N.Y. state parkway policeman, when he was injured in the line of duty and a patient at Long Island Jewish Hospital. She is survived by their four children: Dr. Patrick Kelly (Ellen), of Ledyard, Conn., Mary Kelly (Heather Peck), of Charlottesville, Va., Joseph Kelly (Peggy), of Parksley, and Elizabeth Kelly Hancock (Michael), of Charlottesville; along with 10 grandchildren: Patrick, Liam and Erin Kelly, Joseph and Sarah Prior, James and Thomas J. Kelly, and Erik, Bryan, and Kelly Hancock; and five great-grandchildren: Andy and Caleb Totty, and Thomas, Madelyn, and Connor Kelly.
She was also loved by her many pets during her life, including cats, dogs, goats, and horses. Teresa loved poetry, music, movies, and playing trivia games, which she usually won (she was Jeopardy’s biggest armchair winner).
Mrs. Kelly was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Peter’s Parish in Onley where she sang in the choir. She was a past member of St. Agnes Parish in Greenport, N.Y., St. Mary’s Parish in Lovingston, Va., and The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary at Fatima in Weeki Wachee, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Foodbank of the Eastern Shore or the Eastern Shore SPCA.
A funeral mass will be held Saturday, June 27, at 4:30 p.m., at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Onley, which will also be livestreamed.
Arrangements are made by Thornton Funeral Home, Parksley.
