Patricia Ann Kelly
Patricia Ann Kelly, of La Jolla, California, passed away on Friday, January 24th, 2025, at the age of 87 after a short illness. Known to her family as Teace, or TC, Patricia was born on Sunday, November 7th, 1937, in New York City. She was the daughter of the late Annie Mary (Theresa) McCormick and Patrick Joseph Kelly.
Patricia was a 1956 graduate of Hunter Tannersville Central School in Tannersville, New York, where she was Prom Queen, played bass drum in the high school marching band for four years and was also active in Glee Club, Editor of her high school paper, and Vice-President of the Library Club. After graduating, Patricia went to work as a telephone operator for the Bell Telephone Company before moving to Kingston, New York where she was employed first as a secretary for Metropolitan Life, then as a senior secretary for IBM. She moved to Somers Point, New Jersey in 1970, becoming a stay-at-home mom for two years before returning to work, first at Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point, then at Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, New Jersey. She later went to work for the FAA Technical Center in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, starting her government career as an administrative assistant before being accepted into the government's competitive Upward Mobility Program, retiring as a computer systems analyst trainee. After her retirement, Patricia worked part-time for the Wilmington VA Medical Center at the Outpatient Center in Linwood, New Jersey. She also babysat for several local families and worked for Foglio's Contemporary Carpet in Marmora, New Jersey.
The daughter of Irish immigrants from Donegal (her mother) and Galway (her father), Patricia was extremely proud of her Irish-Catholic heritage. She enjoyed traditional culture and was especially fond of the music of Daniel O'Donnell, Dolores Keane, and the Irish Tenors. One of Patricia's favorite memories was the trip she made to Ireland with her brother. Patricia also enjoyed writing; spending time with her grandson, whom Patricia helped to raise; the Jersey Shore; Bible study; and attending church services. She also enjoyed socializing with her friends from her PACE program as well as her neighbors at O'Brien Road Apartments during her time in Syracuse, New York; she especially enjoyed the church luncheons and dinners that were hosted there. Patricia liked to play trivia games and Bingo with her PACE care center friends; she was artistic and colored pictures to give to her family. Patricia also made beautiful, beaded jewelry.
Patricia moved to Southern California in 2018 to be near her daughter and grandson. Before her health declined, she enjoyed day trips to Balboa Park and Oceanside; she especially enjoyed stopping for ice cream at Cali Creme in Encinitas. When her health declined, she was admitted to The Cove at La Jolla Post-Acute Care Center. She loved all of her Cove staff friends and streaming her favorite movies.
In addition to her parents, Patricia was pre-deceased by her sister, Kathleen O'Sullivan; her brother, Michael Kelly; her sister-in-law, Kathleen Kelly; and her nephew, Dr. Joseph Patrick Kelly. She is survived by her daughter, Theresa Taylor (nee Schalk) and grandson, Andrew Taylor, both of San Diego, her niece, Brigid Kim, and four great-nieces: Emily, Sarah, and Rachel Kim, and Callee Jacobson-Hunt.
Patricia will be cremated as requested, with a Mass of Christian Burial to be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Somers Point, New Jersey at a later date. Final internment to be conducted at Holy Cross Cemetery in Mays Landing, New Jersey, alongside her sister, Kathleen, and parents.
Theresa and Andrew Taylor would like to thank Patricia's medical doctors, nurses and support staff at UCSD La Jolla, Elizabeth Hospice, and The Cove at La Jolla, for their outstanding care and compassion. We also want to express our deep love and sincere gratitude to family friend, Margo Schwab, for her unwavering support and kindness during this difficult time. We would also like to thank family friend Penelope Cervera.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Patricia's name be made to The San Diego Eye Bank, 3870 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite #250, San Diego, California 92123.
