Mary Kennedy, 95, Orange

Mary Kennedy was born in the small town of Olean, New York to Norbert and Mabel Weber on September 24, 1927, and passed away in her home in Orange on September 13th with family members by her side. She first remembered meeting her future husband Cornelius (Con) Kennedy at the skating rink where he was a skating instructor and thought he was the most arrogant person she had ever met. In reality, she did not remember they were next door neighbors when very young.

She evidently changed her opinion as she and Con were married for over 50 years before his death and had 5 children: Timothy (Tim), Christine (Chris), Terrence (Terry), Kathleen (Kathy), and Karen. Her number one priority throughout her life was her family and in particular her children who were the lights of her life. For her providing a stable and loving home for her family was the single most important thing in her life. She was a loyal friend to many and maintained a friendship with her childhood friend Beverly for over 70 years.

She had many occupations over the years, including retail sales, owning and operating a dry cleaner and working as a receptionist in her daughters’ veterinary hospital. She always had at least one dog and occasionally a cat in her home and was especially fond of cocker spaniels.

Although taking care of her family itself was a full-time job she found time for many hobbies including painting, music, and collecting Santa’s, bears, Raggedy Ann’s and Andy’s, Disney’s Dopey, and comic books. For entertainment she preferred to play games and cards with friends and family including polish poker, pinochle, Skipbo, Yahtzee, and dominos with one exception: the casino. She took vacations to the Peppermill casino/resort with family members every year and was frequent visitor to Delta Downs casino. In fact, her last trip out of the house was to go to Delta for dinner and play the slot machines.

The loss of her husband, Con in 2004 and her son, Terry in 2001, were two of the most difficult times in her life bus as many mothers do still manage to carry on for the rest of the family.

Left to mourn her loss are her son, Tim Kennedy and his wife Sherrie; daughter, Chris Broadwater and her husband Jim; daughter-in-law, Laurie Kennedy; daughter, Kathy Kennedy; daughter, Karen Kennedy; 7 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren and many close friends.

A celebration of her life will be held at the chapel of Claybar Funeral Home in Orange on Monday, September 18th with visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m. with a memorial service to follow at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers Donations can be made to the nationalmssociety.org in her name.