EAST HARTFORD, Conn. Velva M. (Hughes) Kelly, 73, beloved wife for 57 years of Luther V. Kelly and beloved mother, died Wednesday, April 28, 2004. She was born in Allagash, the daughter of the late Norman and Leanna (Jackson) Hughes and had lived in East Hartford, Conn., for 30 years before returning to Maine where she lived for 15 years, she returned back to Connecticut in 1994. Velva worked at Colt Firearms for 13 years. She loved music and played many musical instruments as well as leading the choir of the Allagash Baptist Church. She was interested in genealogy and had a passion for tracing her family tree. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Kathryn K. and Gene Simmons, of Pennsylvania; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Luther H. and Harlan Kelly of Pennsylvania and Warren P. Kelly of East Hartford; two brothers, Fernald Hughes of Kansas, Keith Hughes of Vermont; two sisters, Vina Odelius of West Hartford, Conn., and Sharon Riley of Andover, Conn.; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two brothers, Gordon and Merrill Hughes. The funeral will be private. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family 4-8 p.m. Friday, April 30, at the Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home, 1276 Berlin Tpk., Wethersfield, Conn. Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Diabetes Assoc., 300 Research Parkway, Meriden, CT 06450.
VELVA M. (HUGHES) KELLY
