Virginia Kelly

A humble, meek, and faith-filled woman, Virginia Kelly was a blessing to those around her.

Although the decade of the 1930s was defined by the Great Depression, Frank and Stella (Rutkowski) Levandowski were filled with unspeakable joy with the birth of their daughter, Virginia Phyllis, on May 18, 1935. She was the youngest of 12 children in her family, although her oldest two siblings died as infants in Poland as her parents were both Polish immigrants. Her father ran a paint store on the West Side, which was below where they lived, while her mother was a homemaker who cared for Virginia and her older siblings, Theodore, Sophie, Helen, Penny, Frank, Vickie, Lucyann, Eleanor, and Jenny. The Levandowskis were members of St. Adalberts Church, and Virginia attended St. Adalberts Elementary and Catholic Central High School through the 10th grade.

Life was forever changed for Virginia when she met Roswell Kelly through mutual friends. They dated for a time and married on June 26, 1954, in the rectory of St. Adalbert. The newlyweds had a honeymoon to Niagara Falls planned, but they never made it there as they ran out of money. They settled into an apartment on Lexington NW and in several other apartments before buying a home on Pettibone Street NW in 1972. Together she and her husband were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Stella. They were also foster parents to many children, primarily babies. They adopted two of these foster children, Daniel and Michael. As a family the Kellys enjoyed vacations to Deer Park Funland in Muskegon as well as to North Carolina to visit friends on several occasions. They were members of St. James Catholic Church.

Throughout her life Virginia was one to keep busy. She loved crocheting gifts for family and friends, and she could often be found playing Bingo at Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s. Virginia was an animal lover and advocate for the down and out whether animals or children. She enjoyed a wide variety of music that included Elvis, Madonna, Reba McEntire, and opera.

Later in life Virginia’s faith continued to be a cornerstone. It was her faith that sustained her during the days following Roswell’s death in 1997. After undergoing health issues, Virginia moved to Holland Home Fulton Manor in 2012 where she made several new friends.

Virginia Kelly will be remembered for her unwavering faith, her fervent prayers, and her continual love for her family. She will be deeply missed.

Virginia P. Kelly aged 78 of Grand Rapids, passed away on Friday evening, February 7, 2014 at Holland Home Fulton Manor. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roswell Kelly. She is survived by her children, Stella (Rex) Bartlett, Daniel Kelly (Mark Bellgowan), Michael Kelly; grandchildren, Eric Bartlett (fiancée MaryBeth Stephens), Karen (Scott) Orr, Evan (Jennifer) Bartlett; great grandchildren, Kristen, Elisabeth and Stella Orr; her sisters, Penny (Lou) Simoncini and Eleanor (Edward) Glusic; sisters-in-law, Loretta Zeman and Lorraine Szczepanek; many nieces, nephews and friends. Virginia and Roswell were foster parents to many children over the years. She was a kind and dedicated wife mother and grandmother who will be dearly missed. A service to celebrate Virginia’s life will be held on Tuesday morning at 11:00 AM at Heritage Life Story Funeral home – 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Visitation at the funeral home on Tuesday from 10:00 AM until the service begins. Burial in Holy Cross Cemetery. Contributions in her memory may be made to DeVos Childrens Hospital or Holland Home Activities Committee. To read more about Virginia’s life, to sign her guest book and to leave your own memory of her, visit her web page at www.lifestorynet.com