Kelly Therese McDermott

Kelly Therese McDermott, 63, of Albany, passed away at home after a brief illness on Monday, March 10, 2025.

Born February 19, 1962 in Queens, New York, she was the daughter of the late Kathleen (Dolly) Quinn.

Kelly attended West Babylon Senior High School, going on to graduate from SUNY Albany with a Bachelor’s in Sociology & Women’s Studies.

After the birth of her first child at home in 1984, Kelly was called to midwifery as a ministry and vocation. Eventually, all 6 of her children were born at home.

Kelly touched thousands of lives as a midwife, serving the home birth community of the Capital Region and beyond for nearly 40 years. She first served as a direct-entry midwife, and later became a Certified Professional Midwife, a labor and delivery nurse, and finally, a Master's prepared Certified Nurse Midwife. In 2010, she founded Sage-Femme Midwifery, an independent midwifery practice specialized in home birth care.

She loved the color purple, whimsical home decor, and her “ladies,” as she fondly referred to her home birth clients. She had recently enjoyed reconnecting with her Irish heritage through music, visits to Ireland, building what she claimed was the world’s smallest Irish pub, and was ecstatic about being able to claim Irish citizenship via her Irish-born grandfather.

Kelly is survived by husband Gary Edelman, daughters Nina and Moriah Cutro-Kelly, step-daughter Rachel Edelman, sons Galen “Johnny” Cutro-Kelly and Ezra Edelman-Kelly, brothers Sean (Sandie), Brian, and Kevin McDermott, dogs Sophie Belle and Pepin, and many cousins and loved ones. She was predeceased by daughter Celeste Edelman-Kelly.

Kelly’s community is invited to join the family for a Celebration of Life on Sunday March 23, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at New Comer Cremations & Funerals, 343 New Karner Rd, Colonie. An Irish wake will follow at a location to be announced.

Donations can be made to Sage-Femme Midwifery, in order to ensure that her staff are able to remain committed to “answering the Call” during this transitional phase of Sage-Femme.