Rosalie B. (DiChiara) Kelley, age 103, passed away peacefully on September 26, 2024 in Connecticut. Rosalie, affectionately known as Babe, was born in Thompsonville, CT, daughter of Joseph and Rose (Diliberto) DiChiara, and was a graduate of Holyoke High School (1938) and the University of Massachusetts Amherst (B.S. Biology, 1942). While at UMass, Rosalie met her future husband, Dr. Thomas J. Kelley. Following graduation, Rosalie worked as a medical technician at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield.

Rosalie was a lifelong resident of Holyoke and South Hadley, MA, and more recently, Connecticut. She was a parishioner of Holy Cross Parish and St. Theresa’s and her faith and service to others gave her purpose and joy. She was a long-time golfing member of Springfield Country Club and enjoyed candlepin bowling and playing bridge later in life. Rosalie was a charter member of the St. Joseph Circle of Holyoke where she and her husband made life-long friends. She also served as a board member of the Friends of the Holyoke Public Library.

Rosalie was a lifelong learner, lover of nature and the arts, and an enthusiastic traveler, visiting over 35 countries. She loved music and always had a song in her heart. Above all, Rosalie took great pride and shared her love in raising her six children and spending time with her multi-generational family.

She was predeceased by her husband Dr. Thomas J. Kelley (d. 1979), and her son, Kevin P. Kelley (d. 2001). She is survived by five children: Atty. Thomas J. Kelley, Jr. (Denise), Roberta A. Kelley, Maureen R. DelVecchio (Jonathan), Dr. Mary Beth Kelley (Dr. Dante DeCrescenzo), and Christopher E. Kelley, 12 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.

She will be greatly missed by her family and friends as well as her caregivers at Brightview Shelton Senior Living where she celebrated, sang, and danced into her new life.

The funeral for Rosalie will be held on Saturday, October 5 at 9:00am from the Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton Street, Holyoke, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am at St. Theresa of Lisieux Church, South Hadley. Calling hours are Friday, October 4 from 4:00 to 7:00pm at the Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Rosalie to the Holyoke Public Library at https://www.holyokelibrary.org.