Helen Kelly

Helen Kelly, age 93, of Fonda, Iowa died November 29, 2012 at the Newell Good Samaritan Center in Newell. Helen Maude Mullen was born in rural Calhoun County on the family farm between Fonda and Sac City on August 18, 1919 the daughter of John L. and Maude (Evers) Mullen. She was baptized, received 1st Communion and confirmed at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Fonda. Helen started school at the Country School in Pocahontas County. She attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic High School where she graduated in 1937. Following high school graduation, she attended Buena Vista College where she received her Teaching Certificate which she used to teach for several years in rural Country Schools. On August 20, 1945, Helen was united in marriage to the love of her life, Robert P. Kelly, at the Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Fonda. Together, they were blessed with seven children: Dan, Jane, John, Mike, Paul, Dennis and Eileen. Helen worked at McCartanâ€™s Grocery Store and later the Fonda 1st National Bank until she retired on August 13, 1985. She was an active member of the Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Fonda where she took part in Catholic Daughters and the Holy Family Society. Helenâ€™s family was her life and she was always very dedicated to them. In her spare time, she enjoyed yard work and caring for her rose bushes. She also enjoyed reading and keeping up on current news events. Later in life, she enjoyed going for rides in the country with her son, Paul, especially going out to the Mullen Farm. She will be deeply missed. Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Dan (Karen) Kelly of Alliance, Nebraska; Jane Kelly of Olympia, Washington; John (LuAnn) Kelly of Fonda, Iowa; Mike Kelly of Fonda, Iowa; Paul Kelly of Fonda, Iowa; Dennis (Natalie) Kelly of Fonda, Iowa; Eileen (Lyle) DeBlois of Grand Island, Nebraska; eleven grandchildren: Tracy (Don) Kearney; Shawn (Kelly) Kelly; Brett Kelly; Sarah and Patrick Kelly; Aaron, Ryan, and Brendan Kelly; Paul, Michael, and Kelsey Hruskoci; two great grandchildren: Kelsi and Hunter Kearney; sisters: Bernadine Wiewel of Manchester, Iowa; Rita Franchett of Minneapolis, Minnesota; brother-in-law, Mark (Jean) Kelly of Fonda, Iowa; sisters-in-law: Jean Kelly of Princeton, Illinois; Ellen Curran of Marlborough, Massachusetts; nieces; nephews; extended family and friends. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, John and Maude Mullen; husband, Robert Kelly; sisters: Rose Tiedeman, Grace Halligan, Sister Mary Eileen Mullen; brothers, Benedict and Bernard.

Helen Kelly

August 18, 1919 - November 29, 2012