Rita Veronica Kennedy

Rita V Kennedy, age 99, passed away peacefully at home in Venice, Florida on Sunday, June 10, 2018. Born in Walpole, Massachusetts on September 27, 1918, she was the daughter of the late John Daniel & Evelina Elizabeth (Tetreault) Dray. She graduated from Walpole High School with the class of 1936.

Rita worked locally in Walpole and met her 'husband-to-be' in the early 40's. But she had to wait to "tie the knot". A month and a half after his safe return from the Navy, on January 12, 1946, Rita married her beloved husband - Thomas J Kennedy. They raised their growing family of 2 boys and 2 girls in Walpole.

Happily married for 45 years and widowed for 27 years more, Rita had strong faith and always believed that someday she would be reunited with Tommy in Heaven.

Rita split her time between Walpole & E. Falmouth, MA; and Ft Lauderdale & Venice, FL. In 2015 she sold the Walpole home and moved to Venice, Florida where her elder son lived and cared for her. Rita loved living in Florida where the climate suited her; but she always referred to herself as being from 'Walpole, Massachusetts'!

Rita loved to socialize and dance. She even got Tommy dancing; and he loved it too! There wasn't a dance she couldn't do… from disco, ballroom, line-dancing, the waltz, the tango and the list goes on. Meeting people, dancing and 'dolphin watching' at the jetties kept her young at heart. She enjoyed the simple things in life. One hundred and nine days shy of being a Centenarian, Rita is once again dancing - in Heaven!

Beloved wife of the late Thomas J Kennedy.
Loving mother of Nancy K Schneider of Ocala, FL; Thomas J Kennedy Jr of Venice, FL; Joseph P Kennedy and his wife Dana of Bristol, NH; Kathleen Sceviour of E. Falmouth, MA.
Grandmother of Brian, James & Michael Kennedy; Laura (Sceviour) McBride; and Liana (Sceviour) McKenzie.
Great Grandmother of Declan & Lachlan Kennedy.
Also survived by Jean (Dray) Walker and many other nieces, nephews; and great nieces and nephews.
Loving sister of the late Thomas J Dray, John J Dray, Evelina (Dray) Nolan, Frances (Dray) White.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to "gather" in Delaney and Son Funeral Home, 48 Common St, Walpole, MA from 10:00 to 10:45 AM on Tuesday morning, August 14, 2018. A funeral mass will follow at 11:00 AM held at the Blessed Sacrament Church, 10 Diamond St, Walpole, MA. Interment will be immediately after the service mass located at the St Francis Cemetery, Washington St, Walpole, MA. In lieu, of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011 or by phone @ 800-272-3900 or online at http://www.alz.org/donate