Dorothy K Kelty

Dorothy Klipa Kelty, 76, of Osterville, Massachusetts (previously Lake Forest, Illinois, and McLean, Virginia), passed away peacefully on Monday, June 9th, 2025 at her home.
Born September 22, 1948, in Beverly, Massachusetts, Dorothy spent 3 formative years living with her family outside Frankfurt, Germany, while her father served, before returning and settling outside of Washington, D.C. She attended Trinity College in Washington, D.C., where she graduated with a degree in French. She married William J. Kelty III, in 1971, after a successful blind-date set up by their mutual friends sparked their incredible 55-year love story.
She will forever be remembered for the love she shared with her family and friends, lighting up every room, her laugh, and truly enriching the lives of those around her. She found joy in spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and playing her beloved piano up until the very end, even as she valiantly battled Parkinson's disease for almost two decades.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Edmund and Helen, and her older sister, Nancy McGavock Johnson. She is survived by her husband, William, her daughters: Bridget (Bryan), Margaret (Frederik), Evelyn (Chris), Madeline; her five grandchildren: Beverly, Alice, Rose, Nathaniel, and Michael; and her siblings, Virginia and Bud (Carol).
Friends and family are invited to honor her life with a wake on Monday, June 16th from 4PM to 7PM at Chapman Funeral & Cremations, John-Lawrence Chapel, 3778 Falmouth Road, Marstons Mills, MA. A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, June 17th, at 11AM at Our Lady of the Assumption in Osterville, Massachusetts, followed by a burial at 1:30PM at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts. A Celebration of Life will be held following the burial at 2:15PM to 4:15PM at The Vue at the Bog Tavern at the Brookside Golf Course in Bourne, Massachusetts.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to The Michael J. Fox Foundation or Espanola Humane in New Mexico.