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Obituary for Thomas Kelly
Thomas (Tom) Kelly was born in Kilrush Co. Clare, Ireland on November 21, 1935. He was one of 13 children, 3 of whom died in early childhood. His family lived in a coastal town that provided close contact with the great Atlantic as well as woods and fields where Tom enjoyed and participated in all that nature could provide.
Tom left Ireland at an early age to seek employment in England and eventually in America. While in England he discovered his talent for ballroom dancing. It was a pastime that carried him through times of loneliness and hard work. As he became more involved in Irish cultural events, he expanded his dance skills to include Ceile dancing. This environment also allowed him to let people hear his incredible Irish tenor voice.
Tom’s gifts were mostly hidden but when discovered they revealed an ability to enter into the very soul of what he was involved in. He loved to work with wood, sanding, staining, polishing until the piece of wood revealed its inner life and beauty. He loved opera and tried to learn Italian so that he could sing some of the arias.
Tom loved so much of what America had to offer. Its vastness, sense of freedom and its enormous opportunity. The wide open roads filled him with a yearning to drive and embrace the challenge of discovering new places. He enjoyed all that nature gifted him with; the birds, the deer, the trees, the wildflowers, the woods, the lakes and rivers.
Tom’s personal experience of his gifts fed his soul and gave him a certain level of peace that empowered him to accept and deal with the many health problems that became part of his final years.
Gods loving providence was always recognized by Tom. The last months of his life was under the watchful care of the staff of Cardinal Hospice in Oxford (their office is just across the road from Celtic Cove Catholic Bookstore, a kind coincidence) Their skills and support carried him through until the end. BeeHive homes of Oxford offered Tom comfort care and peace as he prepared for his last journey home.
While Covid interrupted greatly his participation in our Catholic worship, he was served generously by Fr. Jim and Fr. John and many friends at St Joseph Church. What a blessing to belong to a faith community.
Tom realized the blessings of living in America. He was also an Irish man to the core. That being said, your prayers are deeply appreciated.
A funeral mass will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 715 N. Lapeer Rd, Lake Orion on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 11 AM with visitation starting at the church at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow at Eastlawn Cemetery in Lake Orion. Visitation will take place at Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors, 39 W. Burdick, Oxford on Friday, September 24, 2021 from 3-8 PM with a video presentation and rosary service beginning at 6:30 PM.
Tom had a great devotion to Fr. Solanus Casey. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made on his behalf to the Fr. Solanus Casey Center (SolanusCenter.org) or Capuchin Providence of St. Joseph, 1820 Mt. Elliot Street, Detroit, Michigan 48207-3485.
