Obituary of Shirley A. Kennedy

SHIRLEY A. KENNEDY, 86, passed away May 18, 2010 in Belfast. She was born in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey April 26, 1924. Shirley’s childhood and education were in New York state, in the public schools of Briarcliff Manor 1941, Syracuse University BA 1945 and Adelphi University MSW 1974. Her working career began as the first woman professional program secretary with the YMCA of New York City, McBurney branch. Shirley married the Boys Youth Director, Tom Kennedy. In 1949 they were assigned to Salonica, Greece under the Fulbright Plan for a two-year term to do refugee relief and village rehabilitation work within the city of Salonica and outlying villages following the Greek Civil War. Church World Service extended this work for an additional two years, expanding the work into northern areas of Macedonia at a time when the communist nation of Yugoslavia was returning hostages from Serbia and Macedonia. In 1954 they returned to the States with a baby daughter, Ellen. Tom decided on a career change – he studied the ministry at Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary. His pastoral assignments took them to Brooklyn and finally to Hempstead, Long Island where they remained for over 30 years. Since 1968 the family spent frequent summer months on Little Cranberry Island off Mt. Desert. Pastor Kennedy served the Protestant church at Islesford. Tom is now buried on Little Cranberry. Following the death of Tom, Shirley traveled to the Holy Land on a study tour of middle eastern problems and peace incentives. Shirley’s social work in Nassau County involved child and family services, social policy, research, crisis intervention, mental health and the administration of a community program for the elderly. Shirley was predeceased by her parents; her husband Tom and brother Robert Bowman. Survivors include her daughter, Ellen Lavallee and husband Gary of Swanville; sister Barbara Whitman and husband Robert of Rochester, NY; nieces and nephews, Diane, Karen, Walter, Tyler, Susan. Memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, June 10th at Nativity Lutheran Church, Old County Road, Rockland. Arrangements under the care of Crabiel-Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Avenue, Belfast. On-line condolences may be offered to the family at www.ripostafh.com.