Jeanne Marie Kennedy
Published March 20, 2011
Jeanne Marie Kennedy was born in Philadelphia, Penn., on Dec. 27, 1933, to Ben and Elizabeth Kennedy. Jeanne was the youngest of three children and enjoyed her status as the baby sister.
Her family relocated to Hollywood, Calif., when she was a young teen. Jeanne thrived in California, attending secretarial school and having a busy social life. In 1951 she became a Navy wife when she married Melvin McAnulty. They had two daughters. She married Hank Borchardt in 1964 and had her youngest daughter. Hank and Jeanne later divorced.
Jeanne always worked. In a time when there were not many women in management positions she advanced from secretary/bookkeeper and hostess positions to upper level management in the food service industry. She was a hard working single mother often holding two or more jobs at once. In 1985 she traveled to Germany to open a Burger King for AAFEES. Jeanne eventually retired and returned to Whidbey Island where she has many friends and ironically “held court” in Burger King with her buddies almost daily.
Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Robert Kennedy, sister Dorthea Selby, son-in-law Chris Terry, grandson Michael McCarty and her former husbands.
On March 20, 2011, Jeanne passed away peacefully in her sleep at Kitsap Hospice Health Care Center with her three daughters Pat (Terry) Wood, Penny Wix and Pam McCarty at her side. Just the day before she enjoyed a visit with her granddaughter Elizabeth (Lyzza) Eberharter Williams, and her great-grandchildren Vincent Mambrini, Julea Loftus and Cierra McCarty. Grandchildren Mike and Amanda Baker and Kevin and Sara Wix are carrying on the Navy tradition and are stationed in San Diego.
Jeanne remained close to her in-laws and extended family. She is survived by her sister-in-law Geraldine Grove and her family, nephew Bobby Keller and his family, great nephews Barry and Jesse Keller and their families. Jeanne’s sons-in-law Tony Wood, Jim Wix and Mac McCarty will miss teasing her and the running jokes they shared.
Jeanne had a great sense of humor and loved to joke. She truly lived well, laughed often and loved much.
Friends and family will gather at the Community Center of her former residence Chelsea Apartments 180 NE Izett St., Oak Harbor, from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 26.