Daniel Joseph Kelly, Jr.

Arrival: December 9, 1935

Departure: June 10, 2024

Daniel Joseph Kelly, Jr. was born in Darby, Pennsylvania to Daniel Joseph & Helen Cecilia Kelly. He is the eldest of three children born to that union. He was christened in the Roman Catholic faith and in his youth served as an altar boy.

He joined the US Army in 1950 and served in the 82nd Airborne Corp of Engineers during the Korean War as an SP in Kaiserslauten, Germany.

When he returned home in 1952 he met and married a beautiful lady, Antoinette Erranti, and from that union they were blessed with four children. In his adult life he converted to Christianity and was baptized in the Atlantic Ocean by Reverend R. W. Schambach. He moved his family to Houston, Texas in 1972 and began working for Southwestern Bell.

They found and immediately joined Lakewood Church. During Lakewood's early years, the congregation met in a yellow metal building and the seating was metal folding chairs. His first ministry was the "folding chair" ministry. At Pastor John's request, Daniel would put the chairs out for the services and then put them away after the services. Daniel was happy to do anything Pastor John Osteen asked him to do. Daniel was a graduate of Lakewood Bible Institute.

After the passing of his beloved wife Antoinette in 1992, he retired from the phone company and spent his time volunteering at the church as a Telephone Prayer Partner and as a Prayer Partner during church services.

In 1998, Pastor John Osteen ordained Daniel as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He began to assist Pastors John & Dodie by volunteering in the Comfort Ministry to attend funerals and offer help where needed. He also volunteered during Pastor John's annual ministers' conventions. It was during the convention of 1998 that he met Shirley Melnick who also volunteered. They began dating after the passing of Pastor John Osteen in 1999 and a new life adventure began!

In 2000 he married the "love of his life" and both began to serve Mrs. Dodie Osteen helping with funerals. He became the Comfort Ministry Director and was a Stephen Ministry Program Instructor, teaching Module Twelve to those going through the program.  He helped establish the grief support group to help bereaved families work through the grief process. Both helped serve on Pastor Joel's Nights of Hope in California, New York, and Philadelphia. He continued to serve as a Sanctuary Prayer Partner until his health began to decline. He retired from his position as Comfort Ministry Director in January 2024.

Daniel had the heart of a servant which was evident as he ministered to the bereaved showing love and compassion mixed with joy and kindness. He never met a stranger and was an encourager to all who crossed his path. When walking along if he was going to pass someone, he would ask, "How ya doin'?" "Everything alright?" He always ended the conversation with "God bless you." He was always ready to listen and assist; willing to share whatever he had with anyone in need. He always maintained the "open door policy" meaning that if anyone was heading the way he was going he would open the door for them and let them go through first.

His love for his family and friends and for the vision of Lakewood Church, as God was directing Pastors Joel and Victoria, remained foremost in his thoughts; including Dr. Paul Osteen's vision of missions both here at home and abroad. Because of his love for children, he accepted the opportunity to adopt a child through World Vision from Cambodia.

He loved sports, including watching the Houston Astros, Houston Texans, and the Philadelphia Eagles and his favorite of all, NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH. All his life he wanted to attend a Notre Dame game.  Craig Johnson and Jim Shaffer made that dream come true. On September 3, 2011, they took Daniel to Indiana to attend the Notre Dame (20) VS South Florida Bulls (23) game. He loved being on the golf course anytime he could fit it into his busy schedule and when he could not you could find him watching it on television.

Last fall he commented, "I am going HOME in the Spring." And just a few days ago he said, "I want to see my mother and father and my son." When asked which son he replied, "Danny."

Daniel will be missed by all who knew him, and he will be cheering us on until we complete our course and join him at HOME.

In lieu of floral tributes:

Daniel would want the Gospel to be furthered; he would rather a Memorial Offering be given to HOPE RISING or the Missions Department of Lakewood Church.

A Very Special Thanks:

The family of Daniel Joseph Kelly, Jr. extends our deepest heartfelt appreciation to the following:

Mr. Mark Klein, Klein Funeral Home Champions Forest Drive of Spring, Texas for their special attention to serve our family in such a kind, thoughtful and loving way.

Mr. Ryan Dean and the staff of Good Shepherd Hospice serving the Spring/Woodlands area for their compassionate and continuous loving care to Daniel and our family.