Free Press –
Nancy Kelly Memorial Service
Dear Friends,
Good morning. With the organist playing the U. S. Air Force alma mater, “Off we go, into the wild blue yonder,” Nancy Kelly’s family left the church where her memorial service was celebrated last week. The congregation was clearly charmed and surprised. Nancy Kelly would have loved it. She would have been tickled by Organist Ed Swartz weaving strains of a J. S. Bach fugue into the march. It was quite a moment.
Nancy’s obituary told readers exactly what spirit and verve she had. “An accomplished and avid pilot, Mrs. Kelly took part in the Great Trans Atlantic Air Race in 1969, a race commemorating the first trans Atlantic crossing 50 years earlier by Alcock and Brown,” the obituary began. “In a twin-engine Cessna with the seats removed to accommodate extra fuel tanks, she flew from New York to London enduring freezing temperatures, a malfunctioning radio, and dangerous weather conditions in a record time of 22 hours, 31 minutes, and 57 seconds to win the race as the fastest woman in a light aircraft.
“That record still stands.
“At the gala in honor of the winners, she was greeted by Prince Philip, the husband of the Queen of England, who asked her if she would ever want to go through anything like that again? To which she replied, “When is the next race?!”
Mighty Betsy and I remember laughing with her and Kerwin, Nancy’s first husband who died in 1986, also of cancer. He had copiloted the small plane with her but another man beat Kerwin’s time by a few seconds. That was enough to prevent Kerwin from attending the ball with Nancy…so he had to watch Nancy receive her accolades from afar.
Nancy was one of Betsy’s closest friends. Nancy was only 73 but she packed 200 years of living into her small frame. Lung cancer killed her after a seven-year heroic fight.
Reverend Dan Moser, pastor of the First United Church of Christ, presided. He read dramatically two comforting pieces of scripture, both perfect reminders of Nancy’s life. From the first letter to Timothy, St. Paul wrote: “The time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
The essence of Nancy’s life was love for her family and friends. So we heard the famous lines from First Corinthians, “So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Referring to Nancy’s trans Atlantic race, Pastor Dan told the congregation that life is not always a smooth flight. “Nancy had a rough time,” he said, referring to her final illness.
Nancy’s granddaughter, Bridget, reminded us that Nancy was small in stature but tremendously strong. “Being with her was always an adventure,” Bridget said.
“I know that a broken heart can heal,” Reverend Beth Watson observed from the pulpit. She is Nancy’s niece.
Quentin Kelly, Nancy’s brother in law, wove a fascinating story about the family. He spoke about Nancy’s husband Philip Miller who came into her life when her first husband, Kerwin died. “Phil took her out of her loneliness,” Quentin told us. “What luck it was that Phil walked through that door into Nancy’s life.”
Craig Thatcher gave a splendid rendition of “Lean on Me.” Accompanying himself on his guitar, Craig’s passionate rendering reduced most of us to tears. He’s a close friend of one of Nancy’s sons, Stephen.
I thought of Phil Miller as Mighty Betsy began to speak. Phil is very compassionate and conservative. Although married and widowed three times, he never had children of his own. And there he was, surrounded by the Kelly clan…known for its passion and enthusiasm.
I didn’t realize that Betsy had saved every letter that Nancy sent her during their 45 years of friendship. Betsy wrote a very public letter to her. Here are several paragraphs from it.
“You have lived your life with courage, humor, grace and intelligence, and for that we are grateful,” Betsy began. “You had a rare insight and wit with which you regarded the world and your place in it.
“More
honest than most people, you were never judgmental and we could count on you to
tell the truth whether we wanted to hear it or not. You were charming and
unique but most importantly, you were
“There didn’t seem to be anything that you could not do or accomplish. You ran a construction business, you were a pilot, and a gourmet cook, a mother of four and grandmother of eight…
“And to Phil: We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for giving Nancy such great love and care,” Betsy’s letter ended. “You were always there for her and for that we are so grateful.”
Joanne Ghazanfari was one of the hospice nurses who helped care for Nancy at the end. She sent a lovely note to Nancy’s widower, Philip Miller. Unfortunately, the former President of the Quakertown National Bank is well acquainted with grief. He lived through the death of three wives. Phil’s heroic. I just don’t know how he does it. Phil shared Ms. Ghazanfari comforting words with me.
“Think of a happy memory and she will be right there with you- whenever you need her,” she wrote. “I’m sure you have enough happy memories to last you forever.”
Pamela Kelly is Nancy’s oldest child. She found one of Nancy’s favorite poems that was included in the program. Written by John Gillespie Magee, Jr., it was perfect for her memorial service.
“Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds-and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of-wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hovering there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue,
I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.”
Farewell, our dear friend.
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith