Joanne Kelly

Joanne (Gordon) Kelly, age 91, formerly of Brightwood, passed away Saturday, August 17, 2024 in Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital at Dover following a period of declining health.

Born in Dover on November 18, 1932, she was a daughter of the late Willis and Bertha (Ball) Gordon.

On February 20, 1954, Joanne married her husband, James Kelly. Together they enjoyed 64 years of marriage before his passing in July of 2018.

Joanne was proud to have been a homemaker, caring for all of her family. In her free-time she enjoyed bowling, canning, making crafts, and playing bingo at Park Village. When Jim retired, they took many bus trips and could often be found finding a bargain at an auction.

She leaves behind her daughters, Diane Aydt of Dover, Linda Kelly of Columbus, Brenda (Dale) Eibel of Byesville, and Dana (Greg) McQuaid of Uhrichsville; her grandson, Jeremy DeMattio of New Philadelphia; several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; her sister, Gail (Don) McCreery of Dover; sister-in-law, Janice Gordon of Ottawa, Ohio; and several nieces.

In addition to her parents and husband, Joanne was preceded in passing by her infant son, Roger A. Kelly; and her brother, Jerry Gordon.

Visitation will be held in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia on Thursday, August 22 2024, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. A service celebrating Joanne’s life will be held in the funeral home chapel beginning at 1:00 PM. Burial will follow in Ridgecrest Memory Gardens at Dover. Friends and family are invited to the Geib Family Center in New Philadelphia following the committal service where a reception will be held.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Park Village Nursing Home where Joanne lived before her passing. 

Memorial donations in Joanne’s memory may be made to Dover First Christian Church, 3029 North Wooster Ave. Dover, OH 44622 or Ohio Hospice Foundation, 716 Commercial Ave SE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.