The 2012 Dutchess County
St. Patrick's Parade
Grand Marshal is...

Mary Jane Ekins Kelly

Jane Kelly lived in Poughkeepsie from 1966 until her untimely passing in 2011. She was a Charter member of the Parade Committee and served as their Executive Secretary for over 10 years. She worked tirelessly with the fund raising activities associated with the Parade Journal.

Jane was born in New York City in 1936 to her parents Thomas Ekins and Beatrice (Malone) both from County Louth, Ireland.

She attended Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Grammar School and the Sacred Heart of Mary Academy in Park Terrace, Collegiate Secretarial School in NYC and Ladycliff College in Highland Falls, NY.

Jane married her High School sweetheart Mike Kelly in 1959. Mike said that was his real BIRTHDAY.

She treasured her many trips to Ireland, particularly those involved with visits to her parents' home sites and meeting with her aunts, uncles and cousins. Jane was a serene, lovely lady who loved God, her Family and her Irish Heritage. She lived the Beatitudes and was a giver and a doer who preferred to be in the background.

Dutchess County
Saint Patrick’s Parade
Past Grand Marshals

1996 Father Charlie Coen
1997 Ethel Brogan
1998 Con Flaherty
1999 Mary and Fred McVicker
2000 Rev. Msgr. Francis P Bellew
2001 Jim O’Brien
2002 Michael J. Kelly
2003 James Cunningham
2004 Margaret Connolly
2005 Dave Costello
2006 Jack Fedigan
2007 Tim Doyle
2008 Noel Morris
2009 Kenneth Brown
2010 Gerard McVicker
2011 Matthew P. Fitzgerald