Wife, grandmother, dancer, caregiver, good friend

Margie Kelly died peacefully in her sleep on Monday, December 4 at the age of 81.

Born July 28, 1936 in Akron, Ohio, she was the youngest child of three born to Dennis and Josephine Carroll of County Cork, Ireland. She grew up in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and attended St. Vincent High School. She studied dance in Akron and New York and had a short career on Broadway as a professional dancer.

In 1958, she married John C. Weatherell of New York. The couple had four children before divorcing.

In 1971, she married Martin (Marty) Kelly of Cleveland, Ohio, a union that produced one more child.

After most of her children had graduated high school, Mrs. Kelly went back to school herself and obtained her licensed vocational nurse certification from Citrus College in Glendora. Many years later she acquired a California Real Estate License.

Mrs. Kelly loved life and lived it to the fullest, her family shared, adding that she was a woman of strong faith, and was an active member in Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church in Claremont since 1976. She had countless friends, and committed much of her life to caring for the sick. She spent numerous years as a friend of Bill W., working with others, and meeting some of her closet friends.

She loved to dance, read, attend mass, walk the hills above Claremont, and travel the world. She used to say, “I go to mass every day except when I have dance. God wants me to dance.” She was also a formidable walker. She adamantly claimed later in life to have walked to Mexico to visit one of her daughters, but this has yet to be verified.

Mrs. Kelly was always available to support her friends and family and had an ear for anyone who needed, or just wanted, to talk. She was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a healer, and a good friend. She was truly one of the great women of our time and will be remembered fondly by all that had the privilege of knowing her, her family shared.

She was preceded in death by her husband and love, Marty Kelly; and two brothers, Tom and Dennis Carroll.

She is survived by her five children, Helen Weatherell, Jack Weatherell, Kathryn Weatherell, Tom Weatherell and Michael Kelly; 14 grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Kelly will be reunited with her husband Marty at Oak Park Cemetery in Claremont.

The family sends special thanks to Nino and his wonderful team of caregivers at Heritage Senior Home Care in La Verne, for providing Mrs. Kelly with comfort, respect, dignity and love in her last years. Thanks also go out to Father Charles and the OLA parish for their friendship and spiritual guidance.

“Save a dance for each of us in heaven, mom,” the family added.

Funeral services will be held at Our Lady of Assumption Church in Claremont at a date to be announced.