It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Carol Ann McKay (nee Kelly) who left us after a beautiful, long life but also far too soon on October 29, 2026. She left this world the way she lived in it, surrounded by her family.

Carol was born on October 6, 1937, the youngest of five children. She and her older siblings Marian Kelly (McDevitt), John (Jack) Kelly, Jr., Helen Kelly, and Robert Kelly grew up in West Philadelphia. Carol used to joke that the other (slightly more famous) Kelly girl from Philly (Grace) was her cousin.

Carol graduated from West Catholic High School in 1955 and had a brief but admirable career with Smith, Kline, and French as an executive assistant. She met her future husband, Francis J. McKay (known by everyone as Jay) at a dance in Philadelphia and they married on June 20,1959. They were married for 52 years until Jay’s passing in December 2011.

Carol and Jay started their family with their daughter Donna’s birth. Over the next 66 years, Carol’s family grew to four children, adding son Fran, and daughters, Linda and Theresa, nine grandchildren (Matthew, Alex, Julie, Katie, Brendan, Sean, Tara, Connor, and Natali) and three great-grandchildren (Jordan, Celeste, and Thomas), all of whom she loved unreservedly. Although she was predeceased by all of her siblings, she remained very close to her niece/goddaughter, Maureen, her nephew, Jim, and her grand-nephew, David, who is more like her 10 th grandchild. She truly enjoyed connecting with her many McKay nieces and nephews and she loved seeing them at family parties and reunions. She also had close, loving relationships with her family’s spouses and partners: Jeff, Kath, Mia, Brian, George, Jenna, Tyler, John, Meagan, and Sean.

Carol devoted herself to her family and always created a home filled with laughter and fun, abundant displays of her thoughtfulness and generosity, and selfless devotion to making things better for everyone around her. She and Jay played host to hundreds of family events – their home was the hub for holidays, birthday dinners, bridal showers, baby showers, and many other opportunities to bring the family together. The amazing family vacations they planned created memories that will last a lifetime. All of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren remain so close and connected because of her loving example.

The funeral Mass for Carol will be held at St. Alphonsus Church, 1567 Temple Drive, in Maple Glen on Saturday, November 7 th at 12:00 p.m., visitation will precede the service beginning at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be immediately after the Mass at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 3301 West Cheltenham Avenue, Philadelphia.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Fox Chase Cancer Center.