Peter William Kelly III

FALMOUTH – Peter William Kelly III, 80, passed away peacefully at home while surrounded by family on Feb. 3, 2023. Born March 13, 1942, in Portland, he was the oldest child and only son of Peter W. II and Alice (Thurlow) Kelly.

Growing up in East Deering, Peter was introduced to lobstering by his grandfather Harold F. Seal of Pine Point, and he began fishing his own traps at the age of 13, commencing a lifetime of commercial fishing. He graduated from Deering High School in 1961 and was a member of the 1959 state football championship team. Shortly after, he met an Irish girl at a dance, and she became the love of his life. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; his family was everything to him, and he was everything to his family.

Deeply committed to the commercial fishing industry, the Portland waterfront was his second home. Peter worked hard to ensure that Widgery Wharf, which dates back to 1776, remained a working fishermen’s wharf. He headed the Maine Fishermen’s Cooperative Association and helped the effort to create a 200-mile limit. A humble and giving man, he was there for anyone down on their luck and was involved in the Seamen’s Friend Society.

Dedicated to the church, Peter attended Mass faithfully and lived his life with purpose. His friends and family extended from Maine to Ireland. He could not go anywhere without seeing someone he knew, saying hello, or making a new friend. Peter enjoyed a front-row seat to his grandchildren’s lives, never missing a game or a chance to take them out to lunch.

Always at the center of his life was his family. Peter is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years Mary (Bourke) Kelly; three sons and daughters-in-law, John and Karen Kelly, Thomas and Jessica Kelly, and Peter and Julie Kelly; grandchildren, Kayla and husband Casey Dall, Declan Kelly, Brina and husband Max Feigenbaum, Connor Kelly, William Kelly, Margaret Kelly, Macklin Kelly, Maeve Kelly, and Colin Kelly; great grandchildren, Nolan Dall and Shay Feigenbaum; sisters, Sharon Robbins, Mary Pinkham, and Patricia Music; nieces and nephews.

Peter was predeceased by his parents; and sister Nancy Kelly.

The family would like to thank Dr. Ciampi, the staff at Maine Medical Center, Hospice of Southern Maine, and Kathy and Ginny for all of their support and care.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Congress Street Portland. Reception to follow. Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. To view Pete’s memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit http://www.ConroyTullyWalker.com

Those desiring may make memorial contributions to:

American Heart

Association

(www.heart.org) or:

St. Jude Children’s Hospital (www.stjude.org)