Joan S. Kennedy

Joan S. Kennedy passed away peacefully on May 27, 2009 in Grand View Hospital, Sellersville. She was born in Syracuse, NY on February 22, 1934. She graduated from Assumption High School in Mattydale, NY in 1951, and the Powelson Business Institute in Syracuse. Her career spanned nine years working for General Electric in the Navy Sales Unit of Heavy Military Electronics Department. Her work involved her in the development of the Manned Lunar Modules that later carried astronauts to the moon, and modernization of the US Navy Fleet at the start of the Cold War. In August of 1964, she married John J. Kennedy of Syracuse, NY where she remained married to him until his passing in November of 2005. Mrs. Kennedy also worked for the state of New York as a civil service employee for a period of 18 years. She retired from the Civil Service in April of 1998. A majority of her time was spent working at the State University College of Cortland in both the Physical Education department and in the library. Until her health started to decline, she was known in the family for her green thumb with plants and cactuses, singing songs, and protectively ruling over her kitchen. She declined gracefully and departed peacefully. The late Mr. & Mrs. Kennedy lived in the town of Homer for over 40 years, and belonged to the Saint Margaret's Parish in Homer. She is survived by her children Margaret K. Hessler and her husband Robert of Quakertown and John K. Kennedy of Newnan, Georgia, her sister and brother-in-law, Adella and Edward Fowler of Columbia, MD and three nephews, Mark, Michael, and Tim Fowler. Services will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 10:00 A.M. in the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) 821 W. Broad St. Quakertown. Call Tuesday 9:00-10:00 A.M. in the funeral home. A mass will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 10:00 A.M. in St. Margaret's Roman Catholic Church 14 Copeland Ave. Homer, NY with calling hours on Wednesday evening 7:00-9:00 P.M.in the Barber Funeral Home in Homer, NY Interment will be at Saint Patrick's Cemetery in Colton, NY The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Margaret's Church Humanitarian Committee at the above address. Service Information A service summary is not available