James T. Kelly

James Thaddeus Kelly, age 78, of Westford, Massachusetts, and formerly of Farmington, Connecticut, died Sunday, February 1, 2026, at home after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, November 2, 1947, he was the son of the late James Francis Kelly and Helen Foley Kelly.

He was educated in Connecticut and in 1971 joined the ranks of the West Hartford Police Department where he served the community for 25 years. Upon retiring from the police department, he became a paraprofessional for Windsor Public Schools in Windsor, Connecticut, for 15 years retiring in 2013. Jim, or Tad, as he was known by his family, will be lovingly remembered for his quick wit and Irish tenor voice.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Nancy Golas Kelly, and his two children: Erin Kelly Travia and her husband, Ryan and their two children Nicholas and Ella of Needham and Brian Kelly and his wife Jenna Andersen and their two children Meredith and Morgan of Methuen.

He was predeceased by his sister, Judith Kelly Hess.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, from 8am -10am at the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 11am at Blessed Trinity Parish, St. Catherine of Alexandria Church, 107 N. Main St., Westford. Private interment will take place at a later date at Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford, Connecticut. Donations in his memory may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute https://www.dana-farber.org/ or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/.