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Marilouise Gilbert Kelly of Hampton Bays died at the Long Island Veterans Home in Stony Brook on February 26. She was 97.
Born to Valentine McArdle and James Murphy in Elmhurst on March 26, 1917, she was known to everyone as “Mari.” She attended Mount Sinai Hospital of Nursing and graduated with honors as a registered nurse. She voluntarily joined the U.S. Army in 1942, and was commissioned 2nd lieutenant at Fort Totten, New York. In 1943 she was based outside London, where she cared for wounded soldiers from the D-Day invasion and the Battle of the Bulge, in which her beloved brother Robert was killed.
In 1945, she married Eugene Kelly of Astoria, and they raised their seven children in New York City, summering in Hampton Bays until their retirement in 1983, at which time they became full-time residents.
Earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing education from Hunter College, she taught at Queens General Hospital School of Nursing. From 1970 to 1983 she was a professor of nursing at Nassau Community College.
Ms. Kelly and her husband enjoyed their retirement in Hampton Bays and frequent trips in their Winnebago. Both were active with the VFW in Quogue and the American Legion in Hampton Bays. After her husband’s death Ms. Kelly expanded her community service as an advocate for mental and physical health care at the Hampton Bays Senior Center, and the Bereavement Group at the Church of St. Rosalie. She provided her wisdom and writings to the Senior Center Creative Writers and Book Club, as well as the Center for Creative Retirement at Suffolk Community College.
Her commendable achievements, patriotism and devotion to better her community and country, were acknowledged by two Town of Southampton proclamations for “Marilouise Kelly” Day, on May 26, 2009, and July 7, 2013. In 2009, Lt. Kelly was the first female Grand Marshal at the Memorial Day parade in Hampton Bays. She was featured in a Fox News special, “The Greatest Generation,” and also honored in the Women’s Memorial for American Military Women in Washington, D.C.
Throughout her life, Ms. Kelly opened her home and heart to many relatives and friends, providing wisdom and encouragement and prompting many smiles, survivors said. She adopted many pets through the years, including her dog, Monaco.
She was predeceased by her husband, Gene; a sister, Paula; and a brother, Robert. She is survived by her children, Barbara, Marilynda, Gene, Christine, Patti Ann and Edward; and five grandchildren, Daniel, Sarah, Christine, Lauren and Robert.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of R.J. O’Shea Funeral Home in Hampton Bays. Burial was at Calverton National Cemetery, alongside her husband.
Memorial donations may be sent to the American Legion Hand-Aldrich Post 924, P.O. Box 1004, Hampton Bays, NY 11946, to the attention of Commander Richard Steiber.
on Mar 2, 2015