CUMBERLAND – Mercy Sister Monica Kelly, formerly known as Sister M. Dionysia, a retired school principal, teacher, and administrative secretary, died Oct. 21 at Mount St. Rita Health Centre.
Baptized Emma M. Kelly in Glasgow, Scotland, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Emma (Reilly) Kelly. She entered the Sisters of Mercy on September 8, 1939 and professed her vows on August 16, 1945.
Sister Kelly earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from the former Catholic Teachers College, Providence; a Bachelor of Arts degree from Salve Regina College (now University); and Master of Arts degrees from The Catholic University, Washington, D.C., and St. Joseph College, Hartford, Conn.
Her educational ministry included teaching at the former St. Joseph School, Pawtucket, the former St. Francis Xavier Academy, Providence, and the former Mount St. Mary Academy, Fall River, Mass., where she later became principal. She also taught at Bishop Keough Regional High School, Pawtucket, and later served as registrar at Salve Regina College and then as secretary to the Mercy provincial administration.
She was Executive Secretary of the Rhode Island United Church of Christ Congregational Conference, and completed her active ministry life as pastoral minister at Most Holy Church of the Redeemer, Tampa, Fla.
Sister Kelly is survived by a sister, Kathleen Woodward of Convent Station, N.J.; a niece and several nephews. She was the sister of the late John G., Anthony, Vincent, and Raymond Kelly.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Oct. 26 in Mount St. Rita Chapel. Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery, Cumberland.
