Victoire Aline Kelsey

Victoire Aline Kelsey (née Suquet) passed away peacefully on June 1, 2025 in Mishawaka, Indiana at the age of 84. Aline was preceded in death by her loving husband of 45 years, Robert George Kelsey. They were married at St. Rose of Lima Church in Freehold, New Jersey, on August 22, 1969.
Aline was born in Bandol, France, on February 6, 1941, and raised in the pleasant climes of the French Riviera. She was the second daughter of the late Armel and Renée Suquet. Recognized at an early age for her aptitude in math and science, Aline excelled within the French education system, earning a Masters Degree in chemistry from the University of Provence. From there, she taught physics and chemistry in France.
Aline first met her husband Robert in France; he was stationed there while a corporal in the U.S. Army. Several years after this initial meeting, during what was supposed to be a short vacation in the United States, she was re-acquainted with Robert and her destiny changed radically. After a whirlwind six-week courtship, Aline and Robert got married and settled in Freehold, New Jersey, where they would raise their family.
In addition to juggling the demands of family life in (for her) a foreign country, Aline spent her career working at Rutgers University in various capacities, ending her distinguished tenure there as the Associate Director of the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences. While working at Rutgers, Aline earned a Ph.D. in medieval French literature. In honor of her memory and her contributions to the University, Rutgers will be flying flags on its New Brunswick and Piscataway campuses at half-mast for the remainder of this week.
Aline was a brilliant woman, tireless worker, accomplished professional, devoted wife, loving mother, card shark, expert puzzler, voracious reader, avid Notre Dame hockey fan, and, to the delight of her children (and their friends), accomplished chef. She will be greatly missed. Please pray for the repose of her soul and the soul of her husband, Robert, and for the consolation of her family, and the friends who loved her dearly.
She is survived by her three children: Sean and his wife Christel (Krause), Matthew and his wife Nona (Haggard), and Jessica and her husband Nathan Haggard. She was the loving grandmother to 24 grandchildren. Of Sean and Christel: Frances and her husband Patrick Gallagher, Molly, James, Robert, Thomas, Marge, and Beatrice. Of Matthew and Nona: Charles, Gabriel, Peter, William, Elizabeth, James, Dennis, and Catherine. Of Jessica and Nathan: Jack, Gregory, Patrick, Colin, Emilie, Ronin, Maren, Killian, and Rider. She was blessed with three great-grandchildren: Lucy, Rose, and Hank Gallagher. She is also survived by several French relatives. Memorial contributions may be made to St Margarets House at https://stmargaretshouse.org/