Shirley Ann Kelly

Shirley A. Kelly, 89 of Bennington, VT, passed away on June 23, 2023 at the Crescent Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Bennington. Shirley was born in Bennington, VT on July 3, 1933, the daughter of Elmer and Ella (Cross) Van Ness. She was educated in Bennington schools and was very proud to have earned her GED at the age of 66. Shirley was a Quality Control Inspector for Union Carbide and Martin Marietta for many years. Shirley loved to cook, a task in which she excelled, and she also loved gardening. She was very strong in her faith and loved to make people happy. Her greatest joy came from taking care of her many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Shirley is survived by her children; Christine Sansone of Bennington, VT, Jeffrey Loomis of Virginia Beach, VA, Vanessa Loomis (Charles Blish), of Chester, VT, Shirley Ann Lewis (Carlton) of Kinston, NC, Karen Douglas of Bennington, VT, Barbara Carpenter (Joe Catallo), of Beaver Dams, NY, Harry Sanders III (Heather), of Shaftsbury, VT and Susan Kelly Herring (Mike), of Panton, VT. She is also survived by her sister, Betty Paulin of Shaftsbury, VT, and her brother Gerald Van Ness of Columbus, OH and grandchildren; Marianne Courtney, Renee Vittum, Amy Wellspeak, Robin, Jeffrey and Hannah Loomis, Christopher Sanders, Trevor Sanders, Nathan Carpenter, Daniel Herrmann, Lyle Sanders, Abigail Sanders, Emma Snyder and Casey Stroffoleno and many great grandchildren who she truly adored. Shirley was predeceased by her husband, James J. Kelly, her grandson, John Courtney, son-in-law Peter Sansone and her siblings, Robert Van Ness, Helen Shaw, and Lucille Hacking. Friends may call at the Mahar Funeral Home in Bennington, VT on Friday June 30, 2023 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM. A short prayer service will be conducted at the end of the visitation.