Lois May (Shoudy) Kelly, 78, passed away on December 31, 2013, in Boynton Beach, FL, after a brave, but brief battle with acute leukemia
Lois was born October 6, 1935 in Patterson, NJ, the daughter of the late Charles Shoudy, Jr. and May (Flavell) Shoudy. Lois grew up in New Jersey and attended elementary and high school in Ridgewood. She was surrounded by several aunts, uncles and cousins in the area. Lois was an active youth, she danced ballet, and even participated in several beauty pageants.
Soon after graduating from high school, Lois met Paul Douglas (Doug) Kelly and a year later they were married on June 19, 1954 in Ridgewood, NJ.
During their 59 years of marriage, Lois and Doug initially resided in New Jersey for 15 years before relocating to Florida. During this time they were blessed with three children: William Kelly (Christine) of Jacksonville, FL, Susan Kelly Morman (Tim) who recently passed away in Sedalia, CO, and Linda Kelly Flood (Jay) of Boynton Beach, FL.
She is survived by her husband Doug, two of her children (William and Linda), six grandchildren: Meghan Kelly Martinez, David and Anna Kelly, Nicole Morman, Tyler and Brandon Flood, and two great grandchildren Benjamin and Lilly Martinez.
Shortly after their marriage, Lois and Doug opened and successfully managed an independent paint and art supply store in Oakland, NJ. Lois worked from home as the bookkeeper for the family business. In 1970 they sold the family business and the family moved to Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, where they opened and successfully operated a bookkeeping service for small business clientele. After several years, they both secured their real estate licenses and soon afterward, opened Delray Realty in Delray Beach, FL. Lois specialized in commercial real estate, where she excelled in seeking out new and exciting development opportunities. After retiring from real estate, Lois managed a seasonal resident apartment complex for many years, before fully retiring.
Throughout her adult life, Lois was a devoted wife, a loving and supportive mother, and a friend to many.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, January 6, 2014, 11AM at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, 840 George Bush Blvd., Delray Beach. Burial will follow at the South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, FL.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.