Alice M. Kelly
SOUTH BURLINGTON / BERKSHIRE: Alice M. Kelly, age 90, passed away on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Allen Harbor Senior Living, with her loving family by her side.
She was born in Poughkeepsie, NY on December 9, 1932, the daughter of the late Francis B. and Alice Tweedie (Wallace) Lamb.
Alice Margaret (Peggy) Kelly (nee Lamb) was born on December 9, 1932. She spent her formative years, during the Depression, moving around the Continental United States including Delaware and Georgia as her father sought engineering jobs. When Peggy’s mother decided it would be best to settle down after Peggy’s brother Francis was born, Peggy completed her schooling in and around Poughkeepsie, NY, graduating from high school and even being crowned Miss Millbrook.
Peggy then graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education from Oneonta Normal School where she was the President of The Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. She cut her teeth as an Elementary School teacher in the Schenectady New York area but by the late 1950s, Peggy began to yearn for adventure. She received an opportunity to teach in Saudi Arabia at the Aramco American School, and boldly accepted, which was incredible given that this was the late 1950s and Peggy was a single woman.
While in Saudi Arabia Peggy met her future husband of 62 years, William (Bill) Kelly. They both had an adventurous spirit and would spend their entire lives living in foreign countries. Peggy and Bill began their family with the births of Maureen and Eileen in Ethiopia. They then moved to Taiwan for two years and then to California where Sharon would be born. They would stay in California until an opportunity afforded itself for a move to Tehran, Iran. It would be here that Peggy would restart her love of teaching by securing a position as a First-grade teacher at Tehran American School. She would continue to work as a teacher in Iran and also earn a Master’s degree in Education until the 1979 revolution forced the family to return to the States. After a 6-month respite in Ohio, the family would move to Seoul, Korea, and then Paris, France. Peggy would teach in elementary schools in each of these countries.
In 1985 Peggy and Bill returned to Ohio where Peggy would teach primary grades at a Catholic school and in 1994 Peggy and Bill began their final overseas adventure by moving to Moscow, Russia. Peggy would also teach elementary school here and would retire from teaching in 1996.
When it came time to retire Peggy and Bill found a lovely house on Robitaille Road in East Berkshire, Vermont. Peggy tirelessly turned this house into a homestead that would be enjoyed by all six of her grandchildren Aaron, Austen, Clara, Julia, Erik, Alice, and countless friends and relatives. Peggy was an expert cook, a voracious reader of mystery novels, and a gardener. She loved animals and had an open door for any in need. She devoted her free time after retirement to volunteering at the East Berkshire Elementary School as well as assisting her daughter, Sharon, in her elementary school classroom. Peggy was also devoted to her new East Berkshire community. She taught catechism at the St. John the Baptist church and participated in the restoration of the East Berkshire Town Hall assisting in various fundraising events with her husband.
Peggy was a brave, creative, adventurous, and generous woman who devoted herself to the contentment and happiness of all those around her.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, William J. Kelly; daughters, Maureen Schips, Eileen CichoskiKelly, and Sharon Kelly-Larson; grandchildren, Aaron Schips, Austen Schips, Clara CichoskiKelly, Julia CichoskiKelly, Erik Larson, and Alice Larson; brother, Francis R. Lamb, sister-in-law Dianne Lamb, and nephew Michael Lamb. Alice was predeceased by her parents.
Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life on Saturday, September 23, 2023, to include an open house visitation from 1 – 3 pm at the Goss-Spears Life Celebration Home, 96 Dickinson Ave., Enosburg Falls, VT 05450.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Alice’s memory may be made to Franklin County Animal Rescue, 30 Sunset Meadows, St. Albans City, VT 05478, or COTS- Committee On Temporary Shelter, P.O. Box 1616, Burlington, VT 05402.
