Barbara Rose Kelly's Obituary
Barbara Rose Veronica Kelly (Nee Wolff), aka Duchess was born on May 23, 1936 to Mortimer Moore Wolff and Miriam Mary Nee Abrams in Port Antonio, Jamaica. Her mother was of German Jewish heritage and her father was of English German descent. She attended preparatory Roman Catholic School under the Kingston Diocese. At that time under the name, Little Flower ran by The Order of Society of Jesus. Today the name has changed to St. Theresa, the same ground, but the old chapel/sanctuary had been demolished and there are new buildings constructed at Deanery Road in Vineyard Town,Kingstown Jamaica.
After graduating from that school, she attended Franklin Town Elementary School/Middle School. After graduating from there, her parent sent her to Boarding School, Mount Saint Joseph Run by the Roman Catholic Diocese. She liked the school and was an excellent student, except for the discipline. She said the Mother Superior ran a tight ship, and the nuns as well towards the students. She was very popular among the girls and very generous. Every week her mother would send a package of goodies. Her music teacher, Sister Veronica her name sakewould entreat her, “Ms. Wolff if you’re good, I will send you toMother’s office to get permission to up your tucks at the train station and to go off campus”. She said everything her mother sent, she shared it with the girls in the dormitory. But there was one girl who kept stealing her supplies even though she kept sharing with her. One day, an incident occurred which she thought would have led to expulsion. She was feeling sick and the school nurse told Sister Veronica that she would go to sickbay in her dorm. As she entered her dorm, she saw the Cadbury wrapper on the floor and the girl eating her chocolate and nuts. She pounced on her and the nun in charge sent her to the Mother Superior’s office. Two of the nuns, who was her teacher, pleaded with Mother. Mother had asked her what happened, she replied, “I always share my tucks, but now I caught the rat”. Mother said I am going to have you kneel and pray several Hail Marys to absolve your conscience. That girl never bothered her any more.
She graduated and went to Durham College to study accounting and bookkeeping. She also studied music and passed several music exams marked by the London Conservatory of Music in London. She wanted to go to the states, as we would say in Jamaica, to study Dental Technology. However, her mother convinced her father to send her to England to do Nursing in 1956. She was very good at whatever she applied herself to. While in London, she worked for the British Railroad, the Tubes as they call it. Then in 1959, she left London and migrated to the USA, arriving in New York. Then she moved on to Fort Worth, Texas. She left Fort Worth, Texas and relocated back to New York where she worked as an Accounting Clerk. Then she went to school for Computer/Key Punch Operations for Electronic Data Processing. Then transitioning to the Health Care Field. In 1972, she relocated to Miami, FL where she continued working in geriatric care until she retired.
She is married and the mother of seven surviving children: husband Neville Kelly, son Noel, daughter Michelle, twin sons Keith and Kevin, daughter Denise, and sons Mortimer and Kingsley. She is also survived by fifteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She is also survived by two brothers - Stanley Wolff of Clearwater, Florida and twin brother Edwin Wolff, of Toronto Canada. Several nieces and nephews, extended families, and friends.
She will be greatly missed, and we mourn our loss.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Palm Coast. A graveside service will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in St. Augustine, Florida.
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