Obituary of William J Kelleher
William Joseph Kelleher, 86, passed away on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at his home in Somerset, NJ.
William was born in Bayonne, NJ to the late William W. and Margaret (nee Hamilton) Kelleher, where he spent most of his younger years. Following his attendance from Bayonne Technical High School, William enlisted in the New Jersey Air National Guard, where served from 1954 to 1962. It was during his enlistment that he married Patricia Lyons, in 1960. They started their marriage in Plainfield, N.J. and lived there until 2018.
For 39 years, William was a devoted employee of Jersey Welding Supply, which later became JWS Technologies, and most recently Airgas, located in Piscataway.
William had a passion for music. In his early years he was a member of the Troubadours of Song, out of Staten Island, and later a member of the St. Mary’s RC Church Choir, where he sang alongside his good friend, Jack O’Malley. A longtime parishioner of St. Mary’s, William served as a lecturer, and with his wife, volunteered at St. Mary’s Sunday Dinner Program since 1996. He was also a volunteer EMT for the Plainfield Rescue Squad, and once a week, he and a good friend, Ed Sitar, would volunteer as one of “Betty’s Boys” at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center.
An avid traveler, William and Pat would take many trips with family and friends, including cruises with the O’Malleys and Sitars. It was the numerous trips to Ireland that he took with his wife that meant the most to him.
Predeceased by his daughter, Mary Ellen Delaney, and siblings, Katherine Kelleher and John Kelleher, William is survived by his wife, Patricia (nee Lyons) Kelleher and children William (Deborah), Joseph, and Daniel (Kimberly). He will also be missed by his grandchildren, Jonathan (Kaitlyn), Brittany (Chris), Colleen (Brian), Leo, Brendan, and Declan; great grandchildren, Patrick, Callum, Mathew, and Molly; and siblings, Margaret Donovan and Edward Kelleher (Carl), along with a host of extended relatives and friends.
A visitation will be held at the McCriskin-Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, from 4 PM to 7 PM.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Mary’s RC Church, 516 W 6th Street, Plainfield, NJ, on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 11 AM. Family and friends may gather at the funeral home prior to mass, beginning at 9:45 AM.
Burial will follow at Holy Redeemer Cemetery, 1734 Clinton Ave, South Plainfield, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the Kelleher family has asked that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or Davis Phinney Foundation, both benefiting Parkinson’s research.