Sr. James Marie Kelly

   Sister James Marie Kelly died May 12, 2025 at the Summit Village at the age of 89.

   She was born Eileen Theresa Kelly on June 4, 1935 at Ogdensburg, New York, daughter of Edgar Joseph and Alida Doe Kelly.  She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph September 8, 1953 and received the habit on April 25, 1954. Sister James Marie made final profession on August 29, 1959. In July, 2024, she celebrated her 70th Jubilee.

   Sister James Marie was a graduate of Immaculate Heart Academy, Class of 1953.  She received her BS in elementary education from SUNY Potsdam. She later pursued her MS in Secondary Math from SUNY Plattsburgh. Sister was the recipient of the NSF summer grant to the University of Pittsburgh and Marquette University.

   Sister James Marie has taught in many schools in the Diocese of Ogdensburg including St. Patrick’s Watertown, St. Mary’s Massena, St. Patrick’s Port Henry, Augustinian Academy Carthage (where she was principal), Holy Family Massena, St. Mary’s Ticonderoga (where she was principal), Mater Dei College Ogdensburg, and Immaculate Heart Central Watertown. In 2005, she was named Teacher of the Year in the Diocese of Ogdensburg Catholic School System.

   Sister James Marie is survived by many nieces and nephews including Eileen Decent, Watertown, Jack Donoghue, Syracuse, Michael Donoghue, South Carolina, Patrick Donoghue, Fayetteville, Nancy Laverty, Watertown, Deanna Cole, Watertown, Kevin Kelly, Massena, Brian Kelly, Watertown, Sally Cadigan, Sedona, AZ, Jerry Beattie, Lake Tahoe and a sister-in-law Caroline Kelly, Watertown as well as several great nieces and nephews.

   Besides her parents, she is predeceased by her sisters Kathleen Beattie and Jean Donoghue, her brother Donald Louis Kelly, and a nephew Jay Beattie.

   Funeral arrangements are with Cummings Funeral Service, Inc.  Waking hours will be at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Watertown on May 14 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm. The funeral liturgy will be held at the Holy Family Church on May 15, at 10:00 am.  Bishop Terry LaValley will be the celebrant and Msgr. Robert Aucoin. homilist.  The funeral liturgy will be live streamed and can be accessed at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Facebook Page.

   Contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 866 Arsenal Street, Watertown, NY 13601. Online condolences to her family may be posted at www.cummingsfuneral.com. 

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