Obituary of Joseph A. "Kelly" McGonnell

Joseph A. “Kelly” McGonnell, 68, of Peabody died peacefully at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers on Thursday, July 7, 2011 after a short illness. He was the devoted husband of Kim Diorio- McGonnell with whom he shared nine years of marriage and was also the husband of the late Maryellen (Downey) McGonnell. He was born in Lynn, Ma on February 26, 1943, the son of the late William Thomas and Marie (Boisseau) McGonnell and was raised in Lynnfield and had resided there before moving to Peabody. He had been a truck driver with the Osram Sylvania Company working in the Danvers Plants for over 30 years. Kelly’s passion was being a call firefighter for the Lynnfield Fire Department where he was a member for over 25 years and after his retirement at Osram/Sylvania he worked with the Lynnfield Police Dept. in the car maintenance division until his recent illness. Kelly took great pleasure in being a member of the Red Knights Chapter 11, a group of firefighters with motorcycles. He had also served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. Kelly was very proud of his Irish heritage and loved the songs and the culture of Ireland. He had enjoyed playing golf with the Elk’s golf league in Wenham. Kelly is survived by his wife, Kim, his children, Michael Thomas McGonnell and his wife Anna of Allston, MA, Jason Scott McGonnell and his wife Rain of Tampa, FL and Kimberly Marie McGonnell and her husband Jerry McGreen of Ft. Myers, Fl., a brother and sister-in-law, Richard Peter and Dianna McGonnell of Peabody and many nieces, nephews and a host of special friends. A Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 10, 2011 from 12 Noon until 4:00 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 82 Lynn St., Peabody facility. A Funeral Service will be held there on Monday at 11:30 AM with Chaplain Dennis Bailey of the Center Congregational Church, Lynnfield officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Hospice of North Shore, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA 01923 in his memory.