Barbara Kelly was in her late 30s when she decided to return to school.

The mother of four earned her nursing degree at the Community College of Allegheny County and went on to serve at West Penn Hospital’s oncology ward for 25 years.

Kelly, a lifelong resident of Plum, died on Oct. 9 from cancer, a disease she devoted much of her life to fighting. She was 77.

During her last months, however, Kelly had the opportunity to glimpse part of her legacy: the Barbara J. Kelly RN, BSN Endowed Nursing Scholarship at CCAC.

Kelly’s eldest son, Matthew, 56, initially pitched the idea.

The scholarship fund is meant for non-traditional nursing students, such as those returning from military service or heading back to school later in life, like his mother, Matthew said.

Each spring, a panel, including members of the Kelly family, selects a recipient for the scholarship, which will be gifted in the fall semester.

Throughout his mother’s illness, Matthew said, the scholarship brought the family together, especially as they considered application letters together.

“It gave her quite a bit of comfort,” Matthew said.

Kelly’s second son, Joe Kelly, 54, said the first scholarship was awarded to a single mother returning to school to get her nursing degree.

Over the years, Kelly served as the family caretaker when relatives fell ill, Joe said.

But as the family continues to support a new generation of nurses, he hopes the scholarships can help lift up a new generation of caretakers for their family and the community.

The endowment also offered Barbara the chance to revisit her alma mater and see the changes several decades had brought.

Joe said the tour was an important moment for his mother.

“It was kind of a cool moment that she was able to go tour the facility with all the new updates they’ve made since she had been a nursing student,” Joe said. “She was really emotional about it.”

As an endowment, the funds will exist in perpetuity to be awarded each year. It’s eligible to second-year students in their second semester.

Though his mother was always humble, Joe said she maintained a consistent pride in her occupation.

“She would always say, ‘I wasn’t a nurse. I am a nurse,’ almost like, ‘Once a marine, always a marine,’” Joe said.

The Kelly family has bankrolled most of the endowment, but that has been supplemented by donations from friends, family and the public.

Jamie McMahon, CEO of CCAC’s Educational Foundation, said endowments like the Kelly family’s make a “huge difference” for students, especially those in non-traditional circumstances.

Thankful for the opportunity to meet Barbara Kelly earlier this year, McMahon said the family has been incredible throughout the endowment process.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the family’s generosity,” he said.

Joe said his mother died peacefully, surrounded by her family.

She is survived by her husband, James, and children Matthew J. (Lori Douds) Kelly, Joseph C. (Gretchen Lozenski) Kelly, Kristin J. (Thomas) Wesolowski, and Jill M. (Jeremy) Venanzi.

She was a devoted grandmother to Zachary (Sydni), Samuel, Benjamin, Nicholas, Cole, Kate, Ryan, Justin, Allie and Carly.

Those interested in donating the Barbara J. Kelly RN, BSN Endowed Nursing Scholarship can do so by searching CCAC’s Education Foundation and clicking “Donate Now.” Until early November, the endowment will appear as an option under “Gift Designation.”

If donating after that, donors should note that the funds are meant for the endowment.

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