HORNELL - Joseph D. “Joe” Kelleher,
Sr., 88, formerly of 15 Florence St., Hornell, died Wednesday afternoon
(September 12, 2018) at Hornell Gardens where he had resided for the past 3
years.
A native & life
resident of Hornell, he was born June 21, 1930 and was the son of Daniel &
Helen (McGinnis) Kelleher.
Joe attended Hornell
High School where he participated in basketball and other sports. He was employed as a brakeman for the former
Erie Railroad and Erie Lackawanna Railroad for over 30 years, retiring in 1983.
He was a member of
Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a devout communicant of St. Ann’s Church. He
was also a longtime member of the Hornell Knights of Columbus.
Joe was an avid
sports fan and enjoyed following his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting
careers --- rarely missing a game. He was
also a “Die Hard” Notre Dame Fighting Irish Fan who enjoyed many trips to South
Bend, IN to attend Notre Dame games with his family.
As a devoted husband
and a loving father, grandfather & great-grandfather, Joe thoroughly loved
and appreciated time spent with his family.
Not only will he be sadly missed by his family, but will also be missed
by his many friends throughout the Hornell community.
Joe was married on
August 8, 1948 to the former Doris King who died April 30, 2007. He was preceded in death by his 5 siblings,
Robert Kelleher, Mary Smith, John Kelleher, Cecilia McPherson and William
Kelleher.
Surviving are 3
sons, Joseph (Linda) Kelleher, JR of Hornell, Thomas (Rebecca) Kelleher of
Castile, NY and Timothy (Denise) Kelleher of Lewisburg, PA; 2 daughters,
Kathleen Welch of Caledonia, NY and Rosann (William) Whiteman of Largo, FL; 11
grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; many nieces & nephews.
The family of Joseph
D. Kelleher will receive friends on Monday from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell,
NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will
be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:00 AM at St. Ann’s Church with burial in St.
Mary’s Cemetery.
Joe’s family request
that memorial contributions in his name be made to St. Ann’s Academy, PO Box
446, Hornell, NY 14843. Memorial forms
will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.
The family of Joseph
D. Kelleher would like to express their thanks and gratitude to the staff at
Hornell Gardens for the wonderful care that he received over the past three
years.
To leave an online
condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com.
