At age 100, Olive “Debbie” (Watts) Kelly, Class of 1941 has passed.

We extend our sincere sympathies to Debbie’s family, friends, and classmates. We will remember Debbie every year on her birthday, October 25th. Debbie was a special person who touched the lives of so many people with her kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness. We hope that remembering Debbie on her birthday will help bring some comfort to those who knew and loved her.

Molony Funeral home prepared a beautiful obituary (www.moloneyfh.com) which was published by Newsday on Aug. 2, 2023.

Kelly – Olive Murial, at her 100th year, longtime resident of Lake Ronkonkoma, died on July 31st, 2023. She was born on October 25, 1922 in her parent’s home of Harry and Pearl Watts at 5 Corners, Lake Grove and was delivered by a mid-wife along with her twin brother Oliver. Olive grew up having close ties with her cousins; the Watson’s who lived a few houses down on Smith Road. She was most known by her nick name, Debbie.

She graduated from the Lake Ronkonkoma Grammar School on Hawkins Avenue in 1937 and from Sayville High School in 1941. As a child she was active in the United Methodist Church of Lake Ronkonkoma and later years would teach Sunday school at the same. After graduation she worked at the Adams Pocketbook Factory in Holbrook followed by the NYS Mental Health Facility in Central Islip. She was a descendent of the Smith’s and Overton’s with extensive historical ties dating back near 400 years to William Brewster of the Mayflower and Smithtown’s founder, Richard “Bull” Smith. Olive also ties back to the original founding families in all 13 towns in Nassau and Suffolk County from the sixteen and seventeen hundreds; especially in the towns of Southold, Southampton and Brookhaven.

Shortly after WW11, in 1947, Olive married Henry Swanson and had two sons Ralph and Harry. Olive would remarry in 1970 to Eugene Kelly. Olive is predeceased by her husband’s and is survived by her children Ralph Swanson and wife Jane and Harry Swanson and his wife Susan. Beloved grandmother of Kelly

(Joseph), Ralph (Megan),

Lauren (Vincent) and Christine (Kilty) and Cherished great-grandmother of Joseph, Ava, Kaylee,

Brayden, Vincent, and Matthew.

Reposing Moloney’s Lake Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 132 Ronkonkoma Ave., Lake Ronkonkoma, NY. Where a religious service will be held Thursday.

Funeral Friday, 10am and interment following Congregational Church Cemetery, Centereach.

Visiting Thursday 5-9pm

www.moloneyfh.com

Published by Newsday on Aug. 2, 2023.