Fred was 78. He passed away from complications related to his five-year battle with colon cancer. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend.
He will be loved and missed forever.
Fred is the son of the late Patrick Joseph and Helena (Lee) Kelly, and brother of the late Francis Lee and Patrick Joseph Kelly, Jr. A lifelong resident of Cumberland, Fred was born at his family home on Mendon Road, formerly the Cumberland Hill Inn, which was run by his mother, an exceptional cook and hostess and lived there for nearly 60 years. He graduated from Cumberland High School in 1947. He wanted to be a veterinarian, but circumstances at the time prevented him from doing so. He worked for Nelson Trucking for 27 years, and then Forte Brothers Construction until he retired in 1988 to pursue a new career as a constable for the Rhode Island court system.
His first love was spending time with his family and friends, but he also enjoyed woodworking, gardening, and tinkering around his house and property. An accomplished handyman with an affection for duct tape, Fred spent countless hours working in his garage, barn, and basement. Within his family, Fred was famous for his hours-long trips to Vose Hardware store located across the street from his house on Mendon Road.
His father was a sulkie racer and horse trainer and Fred shared with him a lifelong love of horses. At his Mendon Road home, Fred and his family kept, cared for, and enjoyed riding a number of horses, including his eldest son's beloved Shetland pony, Poncho, who was a member of the Kelly family for nearly 30 years.
Fred married his high school sweetheart, Lucy Forte, and they shared a loving and enduring partnership for 56 years. The couple had four children together and built a happy, loving, and welcoming home for friends and family alike.
In 1987, they sadly sold Fred's family homestead to move a mile down the road onto Nate Whipple Highway. Not one to take the easy way out, Fred masterminded the moving and remodeling of the Kelly's former neighbor's house - that of 'Old John' McLaughlin - instead of buying a new house. The four-plus hour video tape of the move entertained visitors to the Kelly's new house for many years. Fred lived in his old friend's house on Nate Whipple Highway until his death.
Fred is survived by his eternal sweetheart, Lucy, and his four children and their spouses, Michael and Patti Kelly, Fred Jr. and Alicia Kelly, Mary (Kelly) and Steven Nawrocki, and Frances (Kelly) and Thomas Wilber. He is also survived by his adoring grandchildren, Kaitlin, Michael, Caroline, Freddy, Tommy, Andrea, Colin and a soon-to-be-born Baby Nawrocki with whom he shared his love and gift for storytelling.
He is remembered by his family and friends as being a tremedous man. He would always have a bright smile and a joke to tell. He was a very loving man who will eb deeply missed.
He will be loved and missed forever.
Fred is the son of the late Patrick Joseph and Helena (Lee) Kelly, and brother of the late Francis Lee and Patrick Joseph Kelly, Jr. A lifelong resident of Cumberland, Fred was born at his family home on Mendon Road, formerly the Cumberland Hill Inn, which was run by his mother, an exceptional cook and hostess and lived there for nearly 60 years. He graduated from Cumberland High School in 1947. He wanted to be a veterinarian, but circumstances at the time prevented him from doing so. He worked for Nelson Trucking for 27 years, and then Forte Brothers Construction until he retired in 1988 to pursue a new career as a constable for the Rhode Island court system.
His first love was spending time with his family and friends, but he also enjoyed woodworking, gardening, and tinkering around his house and property. An accomplished handyman with an affection for duct tape, Fred spent countless hours working in his garage, barn, and basement. Within his family, Fred was famous for his hours-long trips to Vose Hardware store located across the street from his house on Mendon Road.
His father was a sulkie racer and horse trainer and Fred shared with him a lifelong love of horses. At his Mendon Road home, Fred and his family kept, cared for, and enjoyed riding a number of horses, including his eldest son's beloved Shetland pony, Poncho, who was a member of the Kelly family for nearly 30 years.
Fred married his high school sweetheart, Lucy Forte, and they shared a loving and enduring partnership for 56 years. The couple had four children together and built a happy, loving, and welcoming home for friends and family alike.
In 1987, they sadly sold Fred's family homestead to move a mile down the road onto Nate Whipple Highway. Not one to take the easy way out, Fred masterminded the moving and remodeling of the Kelly's former neighbor's house - that of 'Old John' McLaughlin - instead of buying a new house. The four-plus hour video tape of the move entertained visitors to the Kelly's new house for many years. Fred lived in his old friend's house on Nate Whipple Highway until his death.
Fred is survived by his eternal sweetheart, Lucy, and his four children and their spouses, Michael and Patti Kelly, Fred Jr. and Alicia Kelly, Mary (Kelly) and Steven Nawrocki, and Frances (Kelly) and Thomas Wilber. He is also survived by his adoring grandchildren, Kaitlin, Michael, Caroline, Freddy, Tommy, Andrea, Colin and a soon-to-be-born Baby Nawrocki with whom he shared his love and gift for storytelling.
He is remembered by his family and friends as being a tremedous man. He would always have a bright smile and a joke to tell. He was a very loving man who will eb deeply missed.
Fred was 78. He passed away from complications related to his five-year battle with colon cancer. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend.
He will be loved and missed forever.
Fred is the son of the late Patrick Joseph and Helena (Lee) Kelly, and brother of the late Francis Lee and Patrick Joseph Kelly, Jr. A lifelong resident of Cumberland, Fred was born at his family home on Mendon Road, formerly the Cumberland Hill Inn, which was run by his mother, an exceptional cook and hostess and lived there for nearly 60 years. He graduated from Cumberland High School in 1947. He wanted to be a veterinarian, but circumstances at the time prevented him from doing so. He worked for Nelson Trucking for 27 years, and then Forte Brothers Construction until he retired in 1988 to pursue a new career as a constable for the Rhode Island court system.
His first love was spending time with his family and friends, but he also enjoyed woodworking, gardening, and tinkering around his house and property. An accomplished handyman with an affection for duct tape, Fred spent countless hours working in his garage, barn, and basement. Within his family, Fred was famous for his hours-long trips to Vose Hardware store located across the street from his house on Mendon Road.
His father was a sulkie racer and horse trainer and Fred shared with him a lifelong love of horses. At his Mendon Road home, Fred and his family kept, cared for, and enjoyed riding a number of horses, including his eldest son's beloved Shetland pony, Poncho, who was a member of the Kelly family for nearly 30 years.
Fred married his high school sweetheart, Lucy Forte, and they shared a loving and enduring partnership for 56 years. The couple had four children together and built a happy, loving, and welcoming home for friends and family alike.
In 1987, they sadly sold Fred's family homestead to move a mile down the road onto Nate Whipple Highway. Not one to take the easy way out, Fred masterminded the moving and remodeling of the Kelly's former neighbor's house - that of 'Old John' McLaughlin - instead of buying a new house. The four-plus hour video tape of the move entertained visitors to the Kelly's new house for many years. Fred lived in his old friend's house on Nate Whipple Highway until his death.
Fred is survived by his eternal sweetheart, Lucy, and his four children and their spouses, Michael and Patti Kelly, Fred Jr. and Alicia Kelly, Mary (Kelly) and Steven Nawrocki, and Frances (Kelly) and Thomas Wilber. He is also survived by his adoring grandchildren, Kaitlin, Michael, Caroline, Freddy, Tommy, Andrea, Colin and a soon-to-be-born Baby Nawrocki with whom he shared his love and gift for storytelling.
He is remembered by his family and friends as being a tremedous man. He would always have a bright smile and a joke to tell. He was a very loving man who will eb deeply missed.
He will be loved and missed forever.
Fred is the son of the late Patrick Joseph and Helena (Lee) Kelly, and brother of the late Francis Lee and Patrick Joseph Kelly, Jr. A lifelong resident of Cumberland, Fred was born at his family home on Mendon Road, formerly the Cumberland Hill Inn, which was run by his mother, an exceptional cook and hostess and lived there for nearly 60 years. He graduated from Cumberland High School in 1947. He wanted to be a veterinarian, but circumstances at the time prevented him from doing so. He worked for Nelson Trucking for 27 years, and then Forte Brothers Construction until he retired in 1988 to pursue a new career as a constable for the Rhode Island court system.
His first love was spending time with his family and friends, but he also enjoyed woodworking, gardening, and tinkering around his house and property. An accomplished handyman with an affection for duct tape, Fred spent countless hours working in his garage, barn, and basement. Within his family, Fred was famous for his hours-long trips to Vose Hardware store located across the street from his house on Mendon Road.
His father was a sulkie racer and horse trainer and Fred shared with him a lifelong love of horses. At his Mendon Road home, Fred and his family kept, cared for, and enjoyed riding a number of horses, including his eldest son's beloved Shetland pony, Poncho, who was a member of the Kelly family for nearly 30 years.
Fred married his high school sweetheart, Lucy Forte, and they shared a loving and enduring partnership for 56 years. The couple had four children together and built a happy, loving, and welcoming home for friends and family alike.
In 1987, they sadly sold Fred's family homestead to move a mile down the road onto Nate Whipple Highway. Not one to take the easy way out, Fred masterminded the moving and remodeling of the Kelly's former neighbor's house - that of 'Old John' McLaughlin - instead of buying a new house. The four-plus hour video tape of the move entertained visitors to the Kelly's new house for many years. Fred lived in his old friend's house on Nate Whipple Highway until his death.
Fred is survived by his eternal sweetheart, Lucy, and his four children and their spouses, Michael and Patti Kelly, Fred Jr. and Alicia Kelly, Mary (Kelly) and Steven Nawrocki, and Frances (Kelly) and Thomas Wilber. He is also survived by his adoring grandchildren, Kaitlin, Michael, Caroline, Freddy, Tommy, Andrea, Colin and a soon-to-be-born Baby Nawrocki with whom he shared his love and gift for storytelling.
He is remembered by his family and friends as being a tremedous man. He would always have a bright smile and a joke to tell. He was a very loving man who will eb deeply missed.
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