Harwich – Sister Dorothy Marie Kelley (Sister Mary Philip) died on July 8, 2021 at her home in Harwich after a short illness, surrounded by her loving family. She was 100 years of age and had been a Good Shepherd Sister for 81 years.
Sister Dorothy was born on Feb. 21, 1921 in Boston, the daughter of Thomas J. Kelley and Anna (Glennon) Kelley. She graduated from St. Gregory High School in Dorchester and shortly after graduation entered the Sisters of the Good Shepherd Novitiate in Peekskill, NY in 1939. There she began her training and formation in the ministry of caring for the poor and marginalized with special focus on teenage girls. Sister pronounced her first vows in 1942 and made her final commitment in 1945.
In her 81 years of religious life in the Good Shepherd community, Sister Dorothy served in so many ways. She was a teacher in Troy, NY, Mt. Florence, Peekskill, NY, Hartford, CT, and Randolph, VT. After earning her Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston College, she served as a social worker at Our Lady of the Way Residence, Pond St., Boston, and Villa Loretto in Peekskill, NY.
Sister Dorothy then went on to study nursing at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Tarrytown, NY where she earned her LPN certificate and devotedly cared for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in the infirmary in Marlborough until 1991. In 1991 the infirmary sisters were missioned to Cranberry Pointe Nursing Facility in Harwich. Sister Dorothy was also missioned to Harwich where she continued her service to the sisters in Pastoral Care at Cranberry Pointe.
She made her home in Harwich and over the years made many friends in the Harwich community and the local parish. In her later years she was involved in Holy Trinity Parish as a Eucharistic minister for the sick and homebound.
Sister Dorothy is predeceased by her three brothers, Robert G., Joseph E. and Leo P, and many loving and dedicated nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.
Calling hours for Sister Dorothy will be at Chapman Funeral home, 678 Main Street Ext., Harwich, from 2-4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13, 2021. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church, 105 Earle Road, West Harwich. Burial will follow at Mt. Benedict Cemetery, West Roxbury.
In lieu of flowers remembrances in Sister Dorothy’s name may be made to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd Retirement Fund, 420 Hemenway Street, Apt. 466, Marlborough, MA 01752.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Collins Funeral Home, 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough.
