John R. Kelly

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John’s family was of utmost importance to him.

John R. Kelly, 76, of Shrewsbury, former Commissioner of Inspectional Services for the City of Worcester, passed away on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at UMass Hospital in Worcester, from complications of Inclusion Body Myositis.

John is survived by his loving wife, with whom he would have celebrated forty-three years of marriage on November 10, Doreen (Moylan) Kelly; two sons, John R. Kelly and his wife Kaileen, and Brian P. Kelly, all of Shrewsbury; two grandchildren, Jack and Celia Kelly; his sister, Jane Fletcher and her husband Jack of Chelmsford; his sister-in-law Felicia Keegan and her husband Bill of Seekonk; his brother-in-law, Robert Moylan of Worcester; many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law, Robert Kelly and his wife Laurie; and by a nephew, Jason Fletcher; a niece, Kathleen Kelly; and by his father and mother-in-law, Robert and Helen Moylan. John was born in Lowell, son of the late, John and Dorothy (Kelleher) Kelly. He grew up in Chelmsford and graduated from Chelmsford High School and from Mount Wachusett Community College. He later moved to Worcester, before settling in Shrewsbury in 1992.

John retired in 2020 as Commissioner of Inspectional Services for the City of Worcester, a position he held since 2009; he had previously been the acting Commissioner from 2007, until his permanent appointment. John spent several years as the Commissioner of Buildings in Marlborough and Concord; and had been a Building Inspector for the City of Worcester from 1990 to 1994.

John was a sports fanatic, especially when it came to the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins. He enjoyed golfing, storytelling, lunches with his long-time friends, visiting Newport with Doreen, and listening to music from the 1960’s. He was proud to say that he was at Woodstock.

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He was proud of his sons and fiercely loved his grandchildren.

John’s family was of utmost importance to him. He was proud of his sons and fiercely loved his grandchildren. He and Doreen were a great team and created a wonderful family.

John’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the VNA, especially to his nurses Jenn, Britney, Jamie, and Victoria; and to the incredible nurses on the sixth floor ICU at UMass, Danielle, Alex, Sonja, and Emily.

Calling Hours will be on Thursday, October 22, from 4 pm until 7 pm at the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester. His Funeral will be on Friday, October 23, departing the funeral home at 9:30 am, in procession to a 10 am Funeral Mass at Saint Mary’s Church, 640 Main Street, Shrewsbury. Interment will follow at Saint John’s Cemetery in Worcester.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, by visiting www.dana-farber.org or to Compassionate Care ALS, by visiting www.ccals.org.