John C. Kelleher passed away peacefully at his home on Aug. 11th at the age of 91 surrounded by his loving daughters.  John was born on April 21, 1932 in NYC to Josephine and Charles Kelleher.  John grew up in Manhattan and attended Annunciation Grammar school and Power Memorial High School.  In 1955 John joined the NYPD and spent two years as a police officer at the 28th and 46th Precincts.  From 1957 until 1971 John was a member of the Emergency Service Division (ESU) where he was awarded four Commendations for Acts of Bravery and three Exceptional Merit Awards and was trained as a specialist in hostage negotiations.  In 1971 John transferred to the Bomb Squad Unit where he was responsible for field investigations and dismantling and disposing of hazardous devices and received the Medal of Valor for Bravery.  John retired from the NYPD in 1977 and worked for the U.S. Army as a Chief Warrant Officer Logistician and Property Control Officer until 1992 when he retired for a second time as a Chief Warrant Officer 4th class.  John was very committed to his faith and active in the Catholic Church and in 1984 he was ordained a Permanent Deacon, ministering to the parishes of St. Aedan's in Pearl River and St. Catharine's in Blauvelt where he would assist at Masses, perform baptisms, officiate at weddings and provide comfort to the sick.

In 1958 John married the love of his life Katherine (Kay) as he called her and raised five children in Pearl River, NY.  John was also very close with his siblings and enjoyed spending time and travelling with them.  John also loved Irish music and singing and spent many a summer up in East Durham enjoying the Irish Alps.

John is predeceased by his beloved wife Katherine, his parents Charles and Josephine, his brothers James, Jerry and Charlie, his sister in law Edie Kelleher and his nephew Stephen Kelleher.  John is survived by his sister Mary Bowe and his sister in law Mary Kelleher his five children Mary Ellen, Katherine (John), Ann Marie, Kevin and John, his nine adored grandchildren Isabelle, Katie, Kellye, Billy, Emma, Sofie, Kevin, Andrew and Nicholas as well as his great grandson Rowan and many nieces and nephews.

A wake will be held Friday, Aug. 25th from 2-4 and 7-9 at Moritz Funeral Home in Tappan, NY. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, Aug. 26th at 10am at St. Catharine of Alexandria Church, Blauvelt, NY.  Internment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY.