John Joseph Kennelly

John Joseph Kennelly of Mattituck died June 25 in Riverhead. He was 88.

He was born April 11, 1923, in Brooklyn, and worked as a defense attorney until his retirement. He was mayor of Westbury from 1960 to 1965, belonged to the Knights of Columbus and sang in a barbershop quartet.

Family members said he enjoyed playing golf, bird watching and walking the East End, and loved to sing in the choir at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Mattituck. He was a man of deep faith and an ardent pro life activist, they said, as well as an independent thinker with a unique sense of humor. He volunteered with a number of organizations and would often assist people who needed transportation to doctor appointments, family said.

Mr. Kennelly was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Katherine, in 2007, and his son Peter.

He is survived by his children, Katherine Butler of Collingswood, N.J.; Teresa, of Hillsborough, N.J.; Loretta Prizzi of Greensburgh, Pa.; Roseanne Karmel of Toms River, N.J., and Syracuse, N.Y.; Thomas, of Kokomo, Ind.; Mathew, of Ridge; John, of East Rockaway; Nora Scaglione of Tonawanda, N.Y.; Martha, of Mattituck; and Paul, of Toms River.

The family received friends June 26 and 27 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. A funeral Mass was held June 28 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, followed by interment at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery in Cutchogue.

Donations may be made to Priests for Life at P.O. Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314 or http://priestsforlife.org/donate/index.aspx.