Eileen Kennedy
November 20, 1913 ~ May 7, 2009
Eileen Kennedy, age 95 of New Hampton, died Thursday, May 7, 2009, in New Hampton, Iowa.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 2:30 p.m. Monday May 11, 2009 at Holy Family Parish - St. Joseph Center with Msgr. Carl Schmitt, Rev. John Barnes & Rev. Brian Lane officiating. The pall will be placed by her children. Lectors for the service will be Abbie Kennedy, Cara Ode and Clare Gannon. Presenting the offertory gifts will be Michael, Jackson, William and Jackson Ode.
Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, New Hampton with Eileen’s seven grandchildren as pallbearers, Cara Ode, Matt Gannon, Tim Gannon, Clare Gannon, Austin Kennedy, Abbie Kennedy and Dan Kennedy.
Visitation will be 4 - 7 p.m. Sunday at the St. Joseph’s Gathering Space where there will be a 4:30 p.m. Rosary. Further visitation will be one hour prior to the service Monday at the church.
Mrs. Kennedy, the daughter of Dr. John and Marie (Ryan) Kelly was born November 20, 1913, in North English, Iowa. She was educated at Immaculate Conception School and Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids and the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota.
She taught in Norway, Iowa for one year.
On October 1, 1938 she married William J. Kennedy in Cedar Rapids and lived in New Hampton from that day until her death. Mrs. Kennedy was a teacher at New Hampton High School for seventeen years where she initiated the Advanced Standing English Course. She was a past president of the local library board and active in Democratic politics.
She is survived by her children, Michael (Linda) Kennedy of New Hampton, Kathleen (William) Gannon of Mingo, Iowa and Kevin (Norah) Kennedy of New Hampton, seven grandchildren, Cara (Jackson) Ode, Matt Gannon, Tim Gannon, Clare Gannon (Jano Cabrera), Austin Kennedy, Abbie Kennedy, and Dan Kennedy, three great-grandchildren, Michael, William, and Jackson Ode, and a sister Pat Lane of Rapid City, SD.
Her husband, her parents, and her brother Ryan preceded her in death.
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Kennedy family: Please accept my sincere sympathy on the loss of your mother/grandmother. My first thought upon hearing the news was remembering her many volunteer hours during the spring months preparing students for the annual speech contest at St. Joseph School. I recall vividly the panicked look on the faces of those students who had done nothing in between sessions with Eileen and would dread meeting with her as that was unacceptable to her (which was very understandable)! She helped develop some very ‘able’ public speakers and I am sure even those that took it less than seriously would agree she knew the art of public speaking through and through. May all the wonderful memories you have of her help you in this time of grief. And may God hold her in the palm of His hand until you meet again.
Hello, Kennedy Family, As long-time members of the social and political commumunity involving our parents’ generation, your mother was a lovely lady, and her spirt will be sorely missed. God Bless. I am sorry that I did not know of her passing until tonight, Tuesday, or I would have paid my respects to her and to you in person. Nanette
MICHAEL, KATHLEEN AND KEVIN, FUNERALS ARE NOT VERY EASY FOR ME LATELY, BUT I WANTED YOU TO KNOW HOW SPECIAL YOUR MOTHER WAS. EILEEN WAS A PLEASURE TO BE AROUND AND ALL OF MY EMPLOYEES WITHOUT EXCEPTION ENJOYED HER AS A CUSTOMER AN AS A FRIEND. YOUR MOTHER WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED BY ME AND EVERYONE SHE TOUCHED AS A REAL AND GENUINE ‘LADY’. MAYBE NOW SHE CAN TEACH RUTH HOW TO PLAY BRIDGE.
Mike and family , Kevin and family and Kathleen and family, You have our deepest sympathy and our thoughts are with you. Your mother was a beautiful lady and a joy to visit with. Ken loved having her for a teacher and always commented on that.She is truly welcomed in heaven and missed here .
Kathleen, Bill, Matt, Tim, Clare and the entire Kennedy family, We are very sorry to hear about the passing of your Mother/Grandmother. Please accept our deepest condolences and know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Mrs. Kennedy was truly a class act and lived a full life, leaving behind a wonderful family and legacy. God bless.
Dear Linda and Mike, Sounded like your Mom was living a good life right up to the end. I know you and your family will have lots of great memories of her. Our best wishes,thoughts and prayers are with you. Love from nancyandbill
I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to the family of Eileen Kennedy. Mrs. Kennedy was a rare gem in the world of education. Her love of literature led me to the classroom as a reading teacher who never forgot the wonderful atmosphere of her Senior English class. She was truly a special teacher and lady. With sympathy, Kim Severson Fike
Kathleen & Bill and to all your family, Our deepest sympathy to you all. Ms. Kennedy was one of the classiest ladies I have ever met. Every Easter Sunday at Mass in Valeria, she looked beautiful in her spring coat, and the pride of being with her whole family just beamed in her face. God must be short on angels lately, and he has called another one home. She will guide you and look down with that same pride. Love and prayers to your family. Cindy & John
Our sincere sympathy to the whole family. Roger and I were discussing all of the wonderful qualities that made Eileen the person that she was and the only way for us to sum it up is to say that she was truly a ‘great’ person. She will live in our memories!
To The Family of Eileen Kennedy, Michael(Linda)Kennedy,Kathleen(William)Gannon,Kevin(Norah)Kennedy,7 Grandchildren,3 Great Grandchildren,& 1 Sister-In-Law Pat Lane. You all have are Deepist Sympathy in the lose of your Mother,Mother-In-Law,Grandchildren,Great Grandchildren,Sister-In-Law,& All. To all the Family Eileen Kennedy You all have so very many wonderfull momments together, memories, thoughts,prays,& pictures. God Bless Eileen Kennedy,& God Watch Over Eileen Kennedy. Eileen is watching over us all! Eileen is in heaven looking down on all of us,Plus God came an took Eileen by his hand,took Eilleen to heaven.For God only takes the best. so God took Eileen up to be with him until we meet again! During the lose of your love one it’s very hard to deal with.Each one in your heart is your love one inside each one of you all for ever.May God Bless Eileen,& May God Watch Over Eileen! Eileen well be inside you each for ever! If their is any thing we can do? Please let us know. God Watch Over You ALL For ever.Plus God Bless You All For ever! Eileen was an very Wonderfull person,she always was so happy go luckie,Warm kinding person.Eileen touched so very many people lifes,Eileen always was so happy,Eileen was loved by so very many people,Eileen love so very many persons. Eileen well live on in life,Eileen had an golden heart she well be in each ones life for ever. God Bless Each one of the family,& God Watch Over Each one of the family for ever. Eileen, well live on. Love Alice,& Tom Rasing
Sorry to hear about your mother, now God will watch over her. Our sympathy to your families.
MIKE, KEVIN, KATHLEEN AND FAMILIES: WE JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU ARE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR PRAYERS.
Our deepest & heartfelt condolences to the Kennedy/Gannon families. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. Evan, Janet, and Taryn Heggen
Hello, I am sorry to read of your mother’s passing. Your Mom was a positive influence in my life. As a child she was always so kind. I remember on Halloween, your home was always my first stop trick -or – treating! In High School she taught me to write a thesis and I always admired her love for reading. There was a border of purple and white lilacs between our homes, and today that is exactly what I have planted at my current home – because of that memory. She was truly a wonderful lady – Gob Bless. Rachel Field Haley
I also wanted to add my thoughts… Mrs. Kennedy was my English teacher all through out high school and was definitely one of the teachers who touched my life. The things that I remember most about her was the way she carried herself – hair perfectly coifed, always classically dressed and accessorized. She challenged us to think beyond the obvious and exposed us to so much more, via literature, that us country kids from NH would never have experienced otherwise. I went on to Iowa State and then Dallas, TX with the best English and Literature foundation you can have…..I owe that to her! I know that many others feel the same way. Thank you Mrs. Kennedy, you were one of the good ones! You will be missed! With sympathy, Suzanne Laures Peterson
We want to extend our deepest condolences for your loss. Eileen was an inspiring teacher and beautiful person to know all these years. Treasure the memories of cherished times together and thank God for the years you were blessed with her guidance and love. She enjoyed a full life with family and friends and truly enriched the lives of many people throughout her life journey. Joe and Sharon Haskovec family
To the Kennedy family: We want to extend our sincere sympathies for the loss of your Mother, Grandmother, and Great-grandmother. Eileen was a wonderful lady. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. Remember to keep those precious memories with you always. She is now and a special Angel watching over you. The Weiglein Family
I would like to extend my sincere sympathies for your loss. Eileen Kennedy was a gift to me as an outstanding English teacher, making my writing experiences in college a breeze. She was also a gift in her relaxed professionalism in the classroom – a model that I hope I emulate in my classrooms. As I get older, I appreciate more and more the outstanding teachers I had when a student in the New Hampton schools, and Eileen Kennedy is prominent on that list. Again, you have my sympathy, but I hope the sadness of your loss is mitigated by the amazing gift of her life.
To the Kennedy family – Although I’ve been out of high school for 29 years, I still fondly remember my Advanced Standing English class with Mrs. Kennedy. She was a wonderful teacher and an even better person. Please accept my deepest sympathy. Sincerely, Ann Grober, Council Bluffs, IA
I’m sad to hear of Eileen’s passing. What a classy woman and a fabulous teacher! I will remember her with fondness. Deb Wiley, Des Moines, Iowa
Our thoughts and paryers are with the Kennedy families. Mrs. Kennedy’s love and freindship over the generations remains a great treasure to our family.
Kevin and family, We were so sorry to hear of your loss. We would like to extend our sympathy to you and your family at this difficult time. Harry and Mary King and family
Kevin/Mike & Families, I’m so sorry for your loss. We will keep you in our prayers. Kari & Kennedy Huffman