Remembering Brother Edward Kelly, C.Ss.R.
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April 6, 2023Leland Edward Kelly was born April 19th, 1893 to John Edward Kelly and Celina Laflamme, in Orono, Maine, USA. After a year in high school, Edward left school to work at his father’s funeral home as an embalmer and funeral director. Later he ventured into real estate, then insurance, and he found work in a grocery store before he opened a candy and ice cream store in Bangor Maine.During the First World War, twenty-five-year-old Edward enlisted as a private in the United States Army and saw action in France as a gunner in battles during the last month before the Armistice.
Discharged in 1919, Edward learned the watchmaking business but said, “I never could content myself at any job and felt myself as an outcast. I have always dreamed of some quiet spot where I could, after becoming rich, retire and devote my time to prayer. Another dream was to build a home for children, or at least to devote myself, and my time, in the care of young boys, but I can see now that was not the will of God.”
In pursuit of his dream, he entered the separate novitiates of the Brothers of Mercy in Buffalo, and later of the Fathers of the Blessed Sacrament, but neither community suited him.In 1927, he attended a parish mission given by Canadian Redemptorist preachers Frs. Edward Meehan CSsR, and Donald MacDougald CSsR who, like other Canadian priests, often gave missions in the USA. At this service he inquired about the work of the Redemptorist Brothers and the sacristan’s duties which included directing choirs and altar boys.
At the age of 34, he entered the novitiate in Saint John, NB under the direction of Fr. Peter Costello CSsR, and there he professed first vows on August 2, 1928, and took the religious name of Edward.
Here are some of Archbishop Gerry Pettipas CSsR’s memories of Brother Edward:“Brother Ed was one of the first people I met when I arrived at St. Mary's College in Brockville, on September 6th, 1966. My bus from eastern Canada arrived on Monday evening, which was Labour Day that year, and I took a cab from the bus terminal. If I'm not mistaken, the cabby's name was Red Jackson. He seemed to know just where to bring me and he dropped me off at the back door near the kitchen.
Fr. Jim Davis welcomed me and brought me down to the staff refectory. There I was introduced to Br. Edward, the Refectorian (a new word for me meaning the person responsible for looking after the dining room). Brother Ed had me sit down and brought me some food. He kept me company, but also corrected me promptly on two counts: leaning on the back two legs of my chair, and licking my knife as I ate. My family had never corrected me on these matters; it was already clear to me that discipline in the juvenate would be different than at home.
Br. Edward was always a pleasant man. Always smiling, often laughing, and always ready to share a joke or humorous incident. Many years later, when I was Novice Director at Holy Redeemer College, I remember that he needed a cane to walk. He was outfitted with the sort that could extend and contract, so it had holes running along its length. He liked to raise it to his lips and pretend it was a flute.
Not long after that he graduated to a wheelchair. One of my novices, Peter Lesperance, took to pushing him around at Ed's request. Some thought this too indulgent to this venerable elder while the rest of us disagreed.
Brother Edward's story of being a gunner in WWI intrigued me. He told me he never finished high school. Apparently some students were in the habit of hanging classmates out the classroom window by their feet. Edward was wrongly accused and suspended for a week or two, and he never went back. What wisdom this man had came from the school of life. He learned his lessons there well, and didn't mind passing on his learning.”
I first met Br. Edward in 1962 when I arrived at St. Mary’s College to start my formation as a Brother Postulant. St. Mary’s was the Redemptorist Junior High School Seminary near Brockville, Ontario, situated on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Br. Ed helped Br. Nick Haley and me in the kitchen and he also looked after the three dining rooms.
Br. Ed never talked about his war experiences to me other than to show me a picture of himself in his army uniform. Br. Ed had a great sense of humour. His collection of funny stories was vast. He had a vivid memory and was an entertaining raconteur of amusing anecdotes, jokes and rhymes and he seldom repeated himself.
In 1969 Brother Ed and I were stationed at Holy Redeemer College in Windsor, Ontario, our Retreat and Conference Centre. Brother Ed helped me in the kitchen preparing meals. He was a very tall and strong man even in his 80's, stronger than I was, and I was 25 but weighed only 119 pounds.
I’ll tell you one story that shows just how strong he was. We used to buy hips of beef and hang them in our upstairs walk-in cooler before carving them up. Br. Ed and I would go into the cooler, lift the hip of beef off the hook on the wall and together we’d carry it out. I held the ankle and Br. Ed held the thick, heavy hip.
At some point Br. Ed would say, “I feel like I am carrying both you and the hip of beef.” And I’d reply, “You are, I’m just guiding you!”
Then we’d make our way to the meat cutting table and on the count of three we’d swing the hip of beef onto the table where I would proceed to cut it up. I gave Brother Ed the tougher parts to cut into stew meat and grind into hamburger while I worked with the roasts, etc.
Br. Ed believed salt was not good for your health so he made salt free bread. Most confreres enjoyed it although some turned it down. When confreres commented about the absence of salt Br. Ed would respond at length about its benefits to your health.
Br. Ed traveled to Saint John, NB from Windsor, Ontario for my Final Vows Celebration on October 16, 1972. Fr. Alphonsus Thomas was the Provincial Superior then and he received my Final Vows at the Mass that evening at our Redemptorist parish church, St. Peter’s.The night of my Final Vows the wonderful ladies of St. Peter’s Catholic Women’s League prepared the reception that followed in the church basement and many attended. My mother, my Nanny Ayles (my mom’s mother), Br. Ed and I were sitting at a table together talking while my dad was socializing with relatives and friends.
Both my parents were smokers. My Nanny Ayles wasn’t a smoker then as she had given it up. My mom had taken out one of her cigarettes getting ready to light up when Br. Ed, who was a great speaker and a convincing man immediately started to tell my mom about the hazards of smoking. Soon I excused myself to circulate and greet the other guests.
I had a great evening greeting family and friends. About an hour later I returned to Br. Ed and my Mom and grandmother. Mom was smiling, still holding her unlit cigarette, listening intently to Br. Ed. They all seemed to be having a wonderful time.
That Christmas I returned to Saint John to spend Christmas with my family. Upon my return to Windsor, Br. Ed inquired if his lecture in October had convinced my mom to give up smoking. I had to say, “No, Br. Ed, unfortunately it didn’t. And remember my Grandmother? My Nanny Ayles? Well I’m sorry to have to tell you that she took up smoking again!”
On March 14th, 1982, at age 89, our beloved Brother Edward passed into eternal life where he’s bringing JOY to the angels.
