Agnes (Kelly) Whooley, age 85, of Winchester formerly of Medford, passed away Thursday morning leaving this world with many hearts and souls affected by her love of life and its simple pleasures. Born in Roscommon, Irleand, June 25, 1918. She was the daughter of the late Hannorah (Healey) and Thomas Kelly. She was the beloved wife of the late William Whooley, who passed away in 1965 at the age of 57.
Mrs. Whooley worked for many years as an office worker. She enjoyed her work and treasured the people she worked with. Some of her employers included former Mayor of Boston, James Michael Curley, and famous Irish singer Carmel Quinn from the New State Ballroom in Boston´s Back Bay. Agnes had formerly retired in 1983 from H.K. Porter in Somerville, MA and her most recent employer was Hodgen-Noyes Buick in Arlington, MA for 17 years. She resisted retirement until the age of 82.
Widowed at such an early age, people say that Agnes did a phenomenal job caring for her six children, who at that time were the ages 5 to 15 years old. Somehow she managed to work full time, care for her home, and fulfill the responsibilities of two full time parents. Agnes loved her life and her family, treasured her friends and most of all valued her US Citezenship. She was an extraordinarily loving mother and a great friend to many, both young and old.
She was an inspiration to her children and opened her home and her heart to their friends. Many of them thought of Agnes as their second mother. They enjoyed her wit and wisdom and the never ending abundance of food she shared with them at the large kitchen table in her home on Gaston Street in Medford. She was known for her simple yet abundant cooking, especially her Irish Bread which traveled far and wide. She was an avid newspaper reader and a big fan of talk radio. Agnes was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Medford for more than tweny-five years and was most recently a member of the Immaculate Conception Church of Winchester, MA.
Though there is tragedy in any death, there is a precious sort of glory in a life well lived. Perhaps the best measure of a life is how deeply one will be missed. According to an old Irish saying, “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal”.
In addition to her late husband and parents, Agnes is preceded in death by her sister Mary Murphy, and brothers Frank and Michael Kelly. She is survived by her six children; Liam and his wife Jean of Dorchester, Eileen Goode and her husband John of Boston, Kathleen Whooley and her husband Jay Jacoby of Los Angelis, CA, Leo of Revere, Kevin and his wife Carol of Medford, Sean and his wife Kim of Wilmington. She is also survived by her loving grandchildren; William, Lindsay, Brendan, Kaila, Jenna and Brian Whooley.
Funeral from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, Tuesday, Feb. 24th, at 9 AM. Followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Francis of Assisi Church, Fellsway West, Medford at 10 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours Sunday 2 - 6 & Monday 4 thru 8. Services will cocnlude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. It has been requested that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Agnes' memory to the St. Jude Childrens Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or call memorial doner services at 1 800 822-6344.