1926 – 2015

LEWISTON — Norman T. Kelly, 88, of Canton and formerly Rumford, died Friday, April 25, surrounded by family members at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston after a brief hospital stay.

Born in Saint-Édouard de Frampton, Quebec, on June 13, 1926, he was the son of Thomas and Mary (Reed) Kelly. He graduated from Stephens High School, where he used his lengthy, agile frame to play a fine game of basketball. Norman was a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II, where he served on a destroyer patrolling the eastern Atlantic.

After the war, Norman worked for the Oxford Paper Mill, finishing his career as the No. 15 foreman with more than 40 years under his belt.

Norman married Virginia L. Bernard in 1949 and had 61 years of marriage, filled with swing and round dancing, skiing at Mt. Abram, golfing at Turner Highlands, long summers at Worthley Pond and Canton Lake and winter getaways to Vero Beach, Fla., and his passion for building stone walls.

Norman was a past member of American Legion, VFW and Knights of Columbus. He also served on the Rumford Community Hospital Board for a period of time. We will greatly miss his lively banter, his prodigious memory about the Rumford area families that weaved through his life and his strong love for his family and friends.

Norman was predeceased by his wife, Virginia (Bernard) Kelly, who died in 2010. He is survived by his five children, Thomas and Elizabeth Kelly of Auburn, Frederic and Peggy Aiello of Turner, Michael aand Donna Kelly of Wyomissing, Pa., Mark and Caroline Kelly of Needham, Mass., and Mike and Kathy Gerhardt of Minnetrista, Minn. Norman also had eight wonderful grandchildren, who filled the Canton Lake house in the summer. He is also survived by his sisters, Gladys Burns of Ocean City, Md., Dick and Eunice Brown of Toms River, N.J., and Lena Clark of Lewes, Del.

The family would like to extend their thanks to the staff of Central Maine Cardiovascular Surgery for their kind and supportive care.

Friends and family are invited to sign the online guest book and share memories with the family at www.meaderandson.com.