ELDA (IDA) KENNEDY

Elda (Ida) Kennedy (nee Lind) passed away Monday, Feb. 3, 2014 at her home at Rainycrest Long-Term Care in Fort Frances, Ont.
She was born Sept. 18, 1922 in Rainy River, Ont.
She was married to Edwin Kennedy in 1943 and became the mother of six stepchildren, Alan Kennedy, Vivian Smith, Ted Kennedy, Isla Hayes, Audrey Kennedy, and Jim Kennedy.
This was not enough children for her and she was blessed with six more: Fay (John Hazel), Ruffus (Marika) Kennedy, Edwin Kennedy, Helen (Hugh) Geary, Robert John (Vicki) Kennedy, and Betty (Marc) Madil.
Mom was predeceased by her husband, Edwin; sons, Alan Kennedy, Robert John Kennedy, and Jim Kennedy; and daughters, Vivian Smith, Audrey Kennedy, and Helen Geary.
Elda had a great love of animals and children. There are many children and adults who were recipients of her love for cooking and making them smile.
Mom was the benefactor of many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren—some from the Kennedy gene pool and others came through her love of others.
She was especially close to her granddaughter, Brenda Gustafson and her husband, Dave, and their daughter, Jillian, and her granddaughter, Tara Kennedy, and her daughter, Kiera.
Due to her friendly disposition, there was never a person who met her that didn’t feel her warmth and genuineness.
The first half of her life was very hard but during the second half, she built a warm and rewarding life. Some examples are that when she was 45 years old, she took the initiative to learn to drive, bought a car, and began to explore the world of travel with four of her best friends.
Mother was a loving and gentle person who gave more than she received. She will be sadly missed by her family and the rest of the community.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, Feb. 10, 2014 at 1 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, with Pastor Diane Clifford officiating.
Cremation has taken place and a private family interment will be held at a later date.
The honourary pallbearers will be all of Elda’s family and friends.
The family gratefully requests that in memoriam donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Society, P.O. Box 837, Kenora, Ont., P9N 4B5.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com