Kevin Kelly

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Kevin Kelly on July 29, 2026 at the age of 76, following a period of illness.

Kevin was born on July 18, 1950, in Montclair, New Jersey to Thomas and Mary Kelly. He grew up in Verona alongside his brothers, Thomas and Garry, a town that remained his lifelong home and held a special place in his heart. Throughout his life, Kevin faced challenges with quiet determination and remained fiercely independent, building a life filled with friendships, familiar routines, and a connection to the community he loved.

Kevin proudly served the Borough of Essex Fells in the Department of Public Works for 28 years. Many in Verona also knew him as a crossing guard and as the familiar face overseeing countless youth games as a facilities monitor on Linn Drive. He was a familiar presence to generations of local families.

Outside of work, Kevin enjoyed walking around town, stopping at the diner with the newspaper and trying his luck with a lottery ticket. Affectionately known as the “Mayor of Hillside Avenue,” he seemed to know everyone and everything about Verona, from its rich history to the latest neighborhood happenings. His daily walks through town and around “the park” were simply part of who he was.

Kevin had a quiet way of making people laugh, especially his nieces and nephews. He loved sharing family stories, both old and new. There was his legendary grand slam during a family wiffle ball game, his annual tradition of stealing Easter eggs from his nieces and nephews while insisting it was “every man for himself,” and the many Halloweens spent trick-or-treating alongside them. It is even believed that he took part in Verona’s neighborhood ghosting tradition. He also had a knack for showing up with an oversized bag of candy bars or a loud, dancing musical stuffed animal that delighted the kids far more than the adults.

Kevin also had a special place in his heart for dogs, especially his beloved boxers, Finn McCool, Brown, Freedom, Cinnamon and Fonzie. He never seemed to meet a dog that didn’t instantly become his friend.

Kevin is survived by his brother, Thomas (Cathie) Kelly; his nieces, Tracey (Charlie) Giordano, Kate (Patrick) Thomasson, Erin (Pan) Hios, and Meghan Kelly; and his nine grandnieces and grandnephews, all of whom loved him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Mary Kelly and his brother, Garry Kelly.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the Grace Hospice team as well as Kevin’s friends and neighbors for the compassion, dignity, and care they showed him during his final days.

Visiting will be held in the Prout Funeral Home, 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona, NJ 07044 on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 from 8:30 - 9:45 am. A Funeral Mass will follow in Our Lady of the Lake Church, 28 Lakeside Avenue, Verona at 10:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Kevin’s memory by sharing a laugh, buying someone a lottery ticket, taking a walk through Verona, and stopping to say hello to a dog along the way.

Condolences, memories and photos may be left on Kevin’s obituary page at www.proutfuneralhome.com.