Doris “Dorie” M. (Donovan) Kelley 83 of Yarmouth died Friday May 5, 2017 at Pleasant Bay Nursing Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Brewster, where she had been cared for in the final weeks of her illness. In her own words, “Doris lived her life with serenity, peace, contentment and joy.” Truer words were never spoken.

She was the wife of the late Edwin D. Kelley who died in 2010.

Born in Lowell, Doris was the daughter of the late Raymond E. and Gertrude U. (Hearn) (Donovan) Dowd and the late Raymond E. Donovan. She was raised in Milford and Lowell and was a graduate of Lowell High School and Lowell State Teachers College. After college she taught in the North Chelmsford School District for three years.

Doris and Ed were married in Lowell on June 22, 1957. Settling in Waterbury, CT, she continued her teaching career at Wakelee Elementary School in Wolcott, CT. She then taught in Waterbury, CT at the government-funded “Project Follow Through” (a precursor to Project Head Start), which was based at the Berkeley Heights Housing Project. Doris and Ed then moved to Cape Cod where she taught in the Yarmouth School District for over 25 years. All of her years were spent in early childhood education. Doris retired from McArthur Elementary School in 1997.

Doris was a member of several professional teaching organizations, including the NEA, the MTA, and REAM. In the early 1960’s she taught CCD at St. Pius X Parish in Wolcott and years later at Saint Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth.

Doris loved nature, blue skies, birds and animals, particularly dogs. She gave great hugs to old and new friends and her life was full of both. She kept in contact with friends from her own elementary, high school and college years. Her Cape Cod life was full of her dear ”sistahs” from her teaching career, her choir companions from St. Pius X Church in South Yarmouth, her exercise group friends at the Yarmouth Senior Center, her Tuesday night pizza friends at Royal II, and her kind, helpful and cherished neighbors at Buck Island Condominium Village in West Yarmouth where she resided for the last few years.

Doris is survived by her beloved sister-in-law Mary (Kelley) Donovan of CT, her niece, MaryJean Higgins and her husband, Tom of CT, and her nephews, Ray Donovan and his wife, Peg of ME, Mark Donovan of NH, and their children, and her nephew, the Reverend Kevin Donovan, Pastor of Saint Pius X Parish, Wolcott, CT. Other survivors include her two cousins, Barbara G. Colby of PA and Richard Donovan of Lowell, and her dear cousin Susan Harrington of Dennis. She will also be missed by a special friend, Nanci Barnett of Dennis. In addition to her parents and husband, Doris was predeceased by her brother Raymond E. Donovan, and her sister-in-law, M. Jean Kelley.

Her Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday May 9 in Saint Pius X Church, Station Ave., South Yarmouth.

Interment will be private.

Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday May 8 in the Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Ave., South Yarmouth.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations, in Doris' memory, may be made to Saint Pius X Parish Restoration Fund, 5 Barbara St., South Yarmouth, MA 02664, or to the Salesian Missions, 2 Lefevre Lane, New Rochelle, NY 10801-5710, or to a charity of one's choice.

Doris loved sharing her faith, hope and love. She asks that you do the same.

I had known Doris from my time at St. Pius and I shall always recall her warm smile, her loving and caring nature and the serenity with which she lived even during what I am sure were some difficult moments. May she rest in God's arms and may all her family and dear ones know how much she will be missed. Rest in peace dear Doris. Mary Hammond

Knowing Dorrie felt like being touched by an angel!!! Such a privilege to be called one of her "Sistah" teaching friends.