Elizabeth Frances Kelly, 79

Former Rockville Centre resident Elizabeth Frances Kelly died on May 10 at her home in Ashburn, Va. The cause of death was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

A native of Philadelphia, she was a pioneer flight attendant for American Airlines in the early 1950s. She married and raised a family on Long Island and her career included employment with Adelphi University, Doubleday Publishing, and finally, with the Town of Hempstead as Assistant Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Waterways. She was an active participant in civic, social and church activities. Her beauty, intelligence, good humor and homespun philosophy were appreciated by her many friends and colleagues.

A resident of the village from 1983-86, Kelly retired in 1984 and after a 15,000 mile road trip exploring much of the United States and parts of Canada, she retired to Lillian, Ala. where she enthusiastically pursued a variety of interests including church and VFW activities, Idle Minds discussion group, book clubs, Granny Tappers dance troupe, the Red Hat Society and bridge. After celebrating her 70th birthday, she enjoyed a world cruise from January through April 2002. Elizabeth relocated to northern Virginia in 2005 and served as a reading volunteer at Ashburn Elementary School and was active at the Carver Senior Center in Purcellville, Va., until her health limited her mobility.

Kelly was predeceased by her brothers James and William, and husbands William Carberry and Oronzo Colaizzo. She is survived by her four children, Gail Evans of Alexandria, Va.; Lisa Carberry of Portland, Ore.; Kelly Hymes of Leesburg, Va. and William Carberry Jr. of Rockville Centre.

She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Stacey Beam, Kevin VanBremen, Justin Davidson, William Hymes, and William, Thomas and Joseph Carberry; two great-granddaughters, and many loving relatives and friends.

Arrangements will be private, and a memorial service will be scheduled in the future. In lieu of flowers, her family suggests making donations in her memory to the Capital Caring Hospice Organization, 209 Gibson Street, NW, Suite 202, Leesburg, VA 20176 (www.capitalcaring.org), the County of Loudoun Meals-on-Wheels Program, c/o Debra Mobley, Area Agency on Aging, 215 Depot Court, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, VA 20175, or to a charity of your choice.