Published in the August 19, 2016 edition
LYNNFIELD — Charlene S. “Bunty” Kiley, 78, a resident of Lynnfield and Sanbornton, N.H. passed away unexpectedly at home on Friday, Aug. 12.
Born on Jan. 26, 1938, in Winchester, Charlene was the daughter of the late Charles H. Jr. and Arlene (Gardner) Sargent.
She was raised in Wakefield where she graduated from Wakefield High School. In 1958, she was married to Harmon J. Kiley Jr and they settled in Wakefield to raise three sons. Charlene, known by all as “Bunty” worked as a legal secretary for over 30 years.
After Skip reached semi-retirement, Bunty lived in the house they built on Hermit Lake in Sanbornton, N.H. for most of the last 15 years.
Always busy, Bunty led an activity filled, independent life that brought her much joy. Her life could be described as “organized chaos.” She and Skip enjoyed spontaneity but were also highly organized and precise in a lot of ways. Her varied activities included frequent trips to local yard sales, traveling with a roller skating group, tap-dancing at a Dance Studio in Laconia, N.H. and knitting hundreds of mittens for charity. She loved quilting, skiing, dancing, going to shows and plays and traveling with Skip.
An avid skier, Bunty shared her love for the sport with her family as she taught her children and grandchildren how to ski. In years past, she enthusiastically worked as a ski instructor at Ragged Mountain doing what she loved. She and Skip also loved to travel, especially to Branson, Mo. for shows or plays and frequented time shares in Orlando, Fla. and the island of Aruba. Bunty will be missed immeasurably, but her impact on her family will live on as her legacy.
Charlene was the beloved wife of Harmon J.”Skip” Kiley Jr. with whom she shared 58 years of marriage. She was the devoted mother of Kurt J. Kiley and his wife Kerry of Londonderry, N.H., Bruce C. Kiley and his wife Christine of East Hampstead, N.H. and Todd S. Kiley and his wife Jennifer of Wakefield. She was the cherished grandmother of Jacquelyn, Micaela, Jill and Brandon.
Relatives and friends gathered in honor and remembrance of Bunty’s life for her funeral service celebrated at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at 9:30 a.m.
Gifts in memory of Bunty may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, 29 Crafts St., #450, Newton MA 02458.
For an online tribute visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com.
