Philomena Earley Kelleher

Retired, Hudson County Prosecutor's Office

Little Philomena Earley was born on January 17th, some years ago, in a two-room house in the town of Aughakilbrack, County Leitrim, Ireland. Philomena is the youngest daughter of eight children, born to Maryanne and Michael Earley. Her childhood was a modest one, spent on a small farm in the west of Ireland. Early on, Philomena learned the value of hard work as she and her siblings, Patrick, Mary Ellen, Winifred, Peter, Noreen Margaret and her little brother Michael worked on their parents’ land, making turf, plowing fields, milking cows, turning potatoes and gathering eggs to bring to town. Philomena learned firsthand where babies came from, without having to ask, by witnessing the birth of young calves on the family farm.

Like most Irish of the time, Philomena was faced with the harsh reality that paying work would not be found in her homeland. So, at the age of 17, she set out for the shores of America. It was on October 19, 1954, that she made her way to Cobh, in County Cork (Queenstown) Ireland, and set sail on the Georgic. The ship belonged to the White Star Cunard Line (makers of the Titanic & Lusitania) and that night was the evening of the ship’s final voyage. She doesn’t much like to talk about the night she left, because leaving was not easy. If asked, she will tell you that she remembers her, “American Wake,” when friends and neighbors came to say goodbye. She’ll sadly recall her mother, waving a handkerchief from the door of her home. She’ll tell you it was the darkest night of her life, as she could not see her hand in front of her face. She’ll admit that eight days on the boat were very lonely and that she missed home far more than she anticipated her arrival in the United States. When asked years later by one of her children how she felt when she saw the Statue of Liberty, Philomena will tell you she doesn’t remember it, only wanting to be sick over the side of the boat. She was overwhelmed with grief and longing for home on her voyage. 

In New York, Philomena was met by her Aunt Catherine; it was a comfort, finally, to be in the presence of family. Aunt “Kitty” took Philomena straight away to her new home on Academy Street in Jersey City. It was there that she reunited with her sister, Noreen , who had emigrated a few years prior. Upon arrival to America, she immediately enrolled in a Business Class at Snynder High School and started work shortly after as a bookkeeper at First National/First Jersey Bank on Bergen Avenue. She remained there until she was expecting her first child in 1960. Incredibly, on Philomena’s first Saint Patrick’s Day in America, she went to work wearing a yellow blouse. Her American coworkers told her to go home and change into something green. Unaccustomed to this American tradition, she went home at lunch, mortified, and did just that! Because St. Patrick’s Day was a holy day in Ireland, it never occurred to Philomena to wear green. In Ireland, her day started with her father gathering clovers in the fields to pin onto their lapels to wear to mass. But times have certainly changed for Philomena. While her faith remains a driving force in her life, right around March 1st, you will find her in in Newport Mall, in a frantic search for something green to wear on Saint Patrick’s Day. Never again would she make the same mistake in her adopted country.

Saint Patrick’s Day in America proved to be a very special holiday indeed for Philomena, because it was on that holy day, in 1955, at an Irish Dance in Saint Patrick’s Church, that she met a handsome Irish American, born and raised in downtown Jersey City. That man, Dennis Michael Patrick Kelleher, would one day be her adoring husband. Philomena and Dennis were married in Saint Aedan’s Church on June 13, 1959. They are the proud parents of four children, Michael, Kathleen, Colleen and the baby, Maryanne. Following the birth of her first child, Philomena left work to become a stay-at-home mom. And though she resigned from her position at the bank, she did not resign from work. She took on the role of mother with a fervor unmatched by some who ‘work’ round the clock.

Philomena is a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis and a parishioner at Saint Aedan’s Church. She is the past President of Saint Aedan’s Rosary Society and served on the Alter Guild. An active parent and participant in her children’s education, Philomena offered her services as a reading tutor in Saint Aedan’s Grammar School and later volunteered to gather and wrap holiday presents for homeless women and children living in Catholic Charities sponsored shelters. It is by Philomena’s example that her children learned the importance of compassion and service to others. “But for the grace of God, go I,” she says. A strong sense of family and great sense of responsibility inspired Philomena’s desire to share her home with her Aunt Kitty and Uncles Walter and Jimmy. Philomena’s extended family was a part of Ireland she left behind as a young girl. Many nights, her living room would be transformed into a makeshift dance floor. As the Irish music played, memories were made. During these family ‘seisuns,’ Philomena instilled in her family a love of their rich Irish culture and all that it involves. She made her elderly family members an integral part of her daily life, caring for them, nursing them in illness and providing comfort in their waning years. When her youngest was in grammar school, Philomena returned to work on the promise that she would be home for her children after school was dismissed.

In 1984, she took a job at ‘Our Hero’ on Bergen Avenue, charming and mothering the students of Hudson Catholic with her Irish brogue and made them hearty sandwiches to fuel the day. Later, in 1990, she was hired as lead Receptionist for the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. She thrived in this customer service role, welcoming the public, navigating the switchboard, and making friends that remain to this day. She retired from the HC Prosecutors Office in 2006, but still stays in touch with many of her colleagues and would tell you today that she misses work. Though she rarely sits down, she ‘works’ daily in the home caring for Denny, cooking incessantly, planting flowers, inventing cleanup projects. As her kids will tell you, Philly isn’t happy unless she’s ‘messing’ – she is most gratified when she is busy and does not know the meaning of relaxation.

Philomena became a member of the Jersey City St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee in 1996, the year the Irish Festival started, and remained active in the organization for 10 years. She was so proud to play a part in this historic event which her daughter initiated with the City’s Division of Cultural Affairs and the Parade Committee, selling 50/50’s and distributing posters to every business owner she knew. In 2005, Philomena was honored as Jersey City’s Irishwoman of the Year. She proudly marched up John F. Kennedy Boulevard, surrounded by family and friends. Annually, Philomena shares her heritage, hosting a huge Irish Breakfast at her home, after the Irish Mass at St. Aedan’s and before the JC St. Patrick’s Day Parade. She cooks for days and never hosts less than 30 people. Always Irish, proudly American, Philomena embodies the true Irish Immigrant story of success in the new world.

In 2004, Philomena and Dennis traveled back to Ireland with her children and grandchildren. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for them to see Ireland through their mother’s eyes. When Philomena and her family drove up to the family’s house in Ireland, her 82-year-old brother, Pat, met them at the gate and looked around at all her children. He said, “Jaysus, Phil, you left Ireland with nothing and sure came back with everything.” It was one of the proudest days of her life and one of the best for her children as well.

Since traveling to America, Philomena has made her home in Jersey City, and has remained here ever since. She and her husband Dennis celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary this year on June 13th and they remain madly and devotedly in love. Their love, faith in God, and love of heritage have guided their children through life, in good times and in bad. In 2018, Philomena lost her only son Michael to cancer, a devastating loss. But they celebrate his life and his goodness every day. He was an accomplished son, devoted father to Megan and a talented carpenter and Train Inspector for Port Authority. They are proud of their accomplished daughters, Kathleen, Colleen and Maryanne. Kathleen worked for years for Merrill Lynch as a Computer Systems Analyst and raised two of their beautiful granddaughters Tara & Julia. Colleen served the Jersey City School District as a Language Arts & Drama Teacher and Union Representative for 30 years and recently retired. Maryanne served Jersey City for 28 years, launching Jersey City’s first Multi-Ethnic Fesival Series and was recently appointed Hudson County Superintendent of Elections. Philomena’s children are thrilled to celebrate their mother and are grateful for this recognition. It is on her shoulders we stand, proudly and humbly. Philly the Great is what we call her, and we are grateful for this worthy honor!!