Gwendolyn Margaret Keller, 92, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, died on May 15, 2023, from complications of respiratory disease. She will be deeply missed.

Gwen and her husband of nearly sixty-six years, Rev. James Keller, shared a beautiful love story and a passion to recognize the worth in every person. She was keenly interested in family, friends, and strangers, even in her final years while struggling with significant shortness of breath. She was an inspiration to many. Her warmth and kindness to others was her calling card, her trademark, her way of being.

Originally from rural Connecticut, she and Jim lived in the South Bronx for ten years where Jim served as the minister of a primarily black church and where their three children were born. Sixty-five years later they were still in contact with some of the people from that time, which was a theme of their lives - creating strong bonds and keeping them alive.

They later moved to North Andover Massachusetts where Gwen, a nurse, worked first in the maternity and nursery wards of Lawrence General Hospital and later as a visiting nurse, while Jim worked with the immigrant Latino population in Lawrence. When they retired they moved to volunteer at C.I.D.D., a retreat center in Cuernavaca Mexico, for four years. Church members from across North America came to the center to learn about the realities of Latin American life and the impacts that U.S. policies have on that region. Even though Gwen’s Spanish was rudimentary, she worked in the kitchen at C.I.D.D. with women from the area, preparing the food for the visiting church groups. She loved it, and her circle of devoted lifelong friends grew. While at C.I.D.D. Gwen also faithfully served as the nurse for staff and retreat participants.

Throughout their working life they spent happy summer vacations with their family in a cottage they built in Jamestown, R.I. The family treasured their time together there. True to form, they generously welcomed family and friends to visit each year and hosted many celebrations on the property. Upon the first arrival of grandchildren, who were among the greatest joys of her life, they returned from Mexico and settled in Jamestown. They became long-running members of a Tuesday morning Peace and Justice Prayer Group, a group that was central to their lives even at the end of her life. They moved to be nearer their son Jonathan and his family in Riverside when they no longer had the good health and energy to manage the Jamestown home. During the last year of her life they lived in Johnston in the Anchor Bay at Pocasset assisted living facility. 

Gwen had a lifelong love of music and sang in church and community choirs as long as she was able. She served in many other capacities throughout her life; including literacy coach, hospice nurse, girl scout leader, and Meals on Wheels volunteer.

Gwen was deeply devoted to her Christian faith. She was an active and vital part of multiple beloved congregations throughout her life, including the Coventry Congregational Church in Coventry Connecticut, the Morrisania Presbyterian Church in the Bronx New York, the Trinitarian Congregational Church in North Andover Massachusetts, the Jamestown Baptist Church in Jamestown Rhode Island, the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Providence Rhode Island, and the Seekonk Congregational Church in Seekonk Massachusetts. During her final months she and Jim took great pleasure and comfort in virtually attending services at the Riverside Church in New York City.

Raised in Coventry Connecticut, she graduated from Manchester High School as salutatorian of her class. Gwen received her undergraduate degree from Tufts University and her master’s degree from Yale University School of Nursing. She was predeceased by her parents Christopher and Margaret Glenney, brothers William and Christopher Glenney, and sister Theodora Glenney, who sadly died at age 14 before Gwen was born. She leaves behind her husband James, son James P. Keller, Jr. and his wife Alisa Consalvi, daughter Christian Reynolds and her husband Scott Reynolds, son Jonathan Keller and his wife Vera Keller, grandchildren Stephen Reynolds, Daniel Keller, Laura Reynolds, David Keller, Andre Keller and Melissa Keller and many extended family members and friends.

A memorial service to celebrate Gwen’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on June 24th at the Seekonk Congregational church in Seekonk, MA. Her family would like to express deep gratitude to the staff of Anchor Bay for the loving care, friendship, and support Gwen received in her last year and to HopeHealth Hospice Care for their compassionate care of her and her family.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her name to Children’s Friend, the non-profit where her son Jonathan works that serves Rhode Island’s most vulnerable children and families. Donations may be made at the following link: https://www.cfsri.org/make-a-donation/.