JAMES J. KILEY, SR.

KILEY, JAMES J. SR., of Princeton Avenue, Coventry, passed on Wednesday, October 6, 2021. He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years,  Angelina “Angie” (Petreccia) Kiley in 2015. They were married June 10, 1950. Father of James J. Kiley Jr. and his wife Theresa  of West Warwick, and Michael G. Kiley, and his wife Diane, of Hope Valley. He also leaves three lovely granddaughters; Megan Pimental, and her husband Helder of Cranston, Jillian Reynolds, and her husband Kevin, of Hope Valley, and Michaela Kiley  of Providence, the loves of his life. He was the great-grandfather of Rex and Chloe. He was the son of the late Thomas W. and Ledora Kiley of Somerset, MA. Brother of the late Peg Clifton and Thomas, Chris, Bob Kiley, Kay Holland, Pat Smith, and Mae McClimans.

Mr. Kiley was a member of the Class of 1945 at Somerset High School and served with the U.S. Navy in World War II. He attended R.I.C.E., RI Junior College and U.R.I. and is a retired Navy Technical Writer. He held top management positions with the Navy as the Technical Services Director at NARF Quonset until the base closed in 1973 and as the Technical Data Management Head at NUSC Newport RI till he retired in 1982 after 33 years of meritorious service. 

Mr. Kiley was elected to the Coventry Town Council in 1986 and was the Town Council President for an unprecedented 10 years. His experience in management, finance, budgets, personnel and labor relations were well recognized and well known and with those merits he served the Town of Coventry exceptionally well from 1988 to 1998. He was the Vice-President in 1986. In 1990 he was elected to the top position in the Rhode Island State Knights of Columbus, the State Deputy of the Jurisdiction of Rhode Island, the only person ever from Coventry to serve as State Deputy. His wife and he attended the K of C Nations Convention held across the country almost every year since 1979. In 1961 he co-founded the Msgr. Peter E. Blessing Council  5273 of Coventry, is a Charter Member and was the second Grand Knight in 1963. He remained very active in the Blessing Council until his death. Sir Knight Kiley served as the Faithful Navigator of the Father Wallace Assembly Fourth Degree in 2007-07 and was a member of the Father Wallace Color Corp who provided an escort for the Bishops.

Mr. Kiley was very active in Fraternal and Public affairs and activities but also was dedicated to the youth of Coventry as a Little League and Babe Ruth Coach, Pop Warner Football Coach and CYO. He was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan. He lived and died with the Red Sox. Jim was an accomplished ball player in the 1950’s and played with some of the more prominent softball teams in the Providence area. He was also a championship caliber duckpin bowler and earned State and New England recognition stature. 
He was the Parish Auditor for Sts. John and Paul Parish for 17 years as well as Past President of the Parish Council and usher and collector for over 40 years. He is a member and Past President of the Bishop McVinney Foundation a Diocesan of Providence Lay Committee who manages a trust fund to support the needs of seminarians studying for the Priesthood. 

His funeral will be Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at 10 am from the IANNOTTI Funeral Home, 415 Washington St. (Rte.117) Coventry, with a Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am in Sts. John & Paul Church. Interment with military honors in the RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter. Visiting hours Tuesday evening 4 pm - 7 pm.  In accordance with COVID-19 precautions, if you are not fully vaccinated, please wear an appropriate face covering. iannottifh.com
 

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