Kelly Gibbons

Kelly Therese Kearney Gibbons of Newton Township concluded her struggle with cancer on Tuesday evening, February 26, 2013 in Commonwealth Home Health & Hospice unit at Regional Hospital of Scranton. She was the wife of Magisterial District Judge James A. Gibbons. The couple celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary on November 9.

Born on Halloween in 1959, she was the sixth of nine children born to Dr. Paul A. and Mary Ann Sheehan Kearney, formerly of Short Hills, N.J. She was a 1977 graduate of Millburn High School, Millburn, N.J., and received her Bachelor of Arts in 1981 from Providence College, Providence, R.I. Before marriage, she worked for many years in the ski tour industry based in Manhattan, N.Y., traveling to western ski resorts. She also had been a financial advisor for Butcher & Singer, Scranton, for a period until she decided to stay home and raise her children. Her momentous decision to stay home made a lasting impact on her family. In later years, she managed her husband, Jim's private law practice in Scranton.

Kelly was a giver of her time and effort but in very inconspicuous ways. She preferred to be in the background. She neither sought nor enjoyed recognition. She loved to travel, especially to her beloved Spring Lake. The cancer slowed her down, but rarely stopped her completely. Her greatest accomplishments were her children, to whom she taught perseverance, humility and excellence. She often said that her goal was to raise "good humans." She was a charter member of the Friendship House Auxiliary, Scranton and a member of the Jewish Community Center of Scranton, Church of St. Gregory Parish, Clarks Green, and Our Lady of Snows Parish, Clarks Summit.

Kelly's family is forever grateful to Dr. Martin Hyzinski and the staff at Scranton Hematology and Oncology, Dr. Nancy Kemeney and the staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Regional Hospital Hospice Unit, Dr. Glen Digwood and Dr. Linda Barrasse. Through their caring and expertise, all these people made a difficult time that much easier for Kelly and her family.

Also surviving are her children, Catherine Kelly, Chicago, Ill.; Brennan James, Arlington, Va.; Megan Nora, Quinn Marie and Eamon Dominic, all home; four brothers, Dr. Paul A. Kearney, Lexington, Ky.; Atty. John Kearney, Long Valley, N.J.; Dr. Robert Kearney, San Diego, Calif.; Andrew Kearney, San Francisco, Calif.; three sisters, Mary Ann Graham, Malvern; Margaret Sullivan, Franklin, Mass.; Patricia Kologlu, Short Hills, N.J.; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved brother, James Kearney, formerly of Delmar, N.Y., who died in 2008.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be March 2, 2013, at 11:30 a.m. in Church of St. Gregory, 330 North Abington Road, Clarks Green, to be celebrated by Rev. John M. Lapera, pastor, and concelebrated by Rev. Joseph F. Sica of Immaculate Conception Church. Those attending the Mass are asked to go directly to the church. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.

The family will receive relatives and friends Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Service Inc., 111 Colburn Avenue, Clarks Summit. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kearney Family Scholarship at Providence College, 1 Cunningham Square, Providence, RI 02908-9931, Attn: Christy McCallum or www.providence.edu.