John W. Kelly

John W. Kelly, age 50, of Wayne passed Saturday, May 14, 2022.

He was born in Pequannock to Sheila and Francis E. Kelly, MD and was a lifelong resident of Wayne.  Actually John’s birth is somewhat of a miracle as he was born prematurely at just 2 lbs 10 oz. He was airlifted from Chilton Hospital to Cornell Medical Center in New York City where he would spend several months before coming home to Wayne.

John graduated from Wayne Valley High School and continued his education at Montclair State University where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in History.  John’s love for history transcended into his everyday life.  He was always visiting the Wayne Public Library and would spend hours at the local Barns & Noble bookstore. He was a researcher and historian tracing his family history back generations and loved researching his Irish heritage. John had a thirst for knowledge and education was everything to him.

John was a loyal, friendly, caring, and devoted man.  Family was everything to him. He cared for and was extremely dedicated to both of his parents and saw them through their autumn years through their passing away. He was always their go-to caretaker and caring for them was one of his greatest loves.

John maintained the same small group of friends ever since high school. He was loyal to them as they were to him. John‘s friends meant the world to him.

John’s first job was at the Kings Supermarket in Wayne. He helped his brother as an office manager at US Sign and Lighting Service in Wayne for about fifteen years.  He always seemed to return to the food service industry and more recently has worked at the Whole Foods in Wayne and the Stop & Shop Supermarket in Wayne.

John was the loving brother of Frank and his wife Dana Kelly of Wayne, Michael and his wife Tara of Hewitt, and the late James Kelly (d. 1990); he was the loving uncle of James and Rebecca Kelly.

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In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Wayne Public Library, 461 Valley Road, Wayne, NJ 07470.  Please to be sure and put “In Memory of John Kelly” on the memo of your check.