Suzanne M. Kennedy

Surrounded by loved ones Sue passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer at the Leonard A. Miller Centre, Palliative Care Unit on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 65 years of age. 

Sue was predeceased by her parents; Riv and Clara Kennedy, sisters: Maureen Kennedy (Kevin), Stella Comeau, Peggy Davis (Jack), Nancy Kean (Bob), niece Pippa Barton and her son Kieran, and nephew Pat Kean. 

Left to remember her are brother Michael (Maureen), sisters; Agnes Lawrence (Jim) and Debbie Barton (Mike Mallott), special niece Brenda Kennedy, and dear lifelong friends Kathy Messervey and Sharon Wall, many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Sue was born on Bell Island and lived there until the mines closing in 1966.  Her family moved to CBS where she attended school at Holy Spirit, Holy Heart of Mary and Memorial University.  She graduated with a Business degree in 1978 and received a Chartered Accountant designation in 1981. In 1983 she moved kicking and screaming to Ottawa where she had a 30-year career with the Federal Government. On retirement in 2013 she hopped quickly back to NL into her mother’s birthplace of Chapel’s Cove.

Sue had a desire to travel from a very early age, fostered by her mother’s longing to explore places abroad and a wonderful picture book that was on the family bookshelf. In 1964 she took her first trip outside of NL by going to Toronto via train to attend her sister’s wedding.  What an adventure!   The first trip as an adult outside of Canada was in 1984 to Haiti, of all places. That lit a fire in her that lasted until the day she died.  Sue enjoyed some solo adventures to the Caribbean, Europe, Australia and then later once her friends had raised their families they joined her on some incredible trips to China, Thailand, Greece, India, Bali and more. She lived in China for 4 years while teaching English as a second language and has a love for that country and its people.

Sue would like to thank the people who have taken such incredible care of her during this last journey. Dr. Stephanie Squibb and the health care team at the Newhook Medical Centre in Whitbourne; Shelly, Denise, Barb, Pauline and Shannon, are the most compassionate and competent people ever, Dr. Joy McCarthy for her sound advice and caring guidance. The pharmacy staff at Pharmasave in Holyrood, Kristina and Zack, you are awesome. My wonderful sister, nieces, close friends and caregivers, you know who you are. Above all are her caring and beautiful friends, Kathy Sharon and Shirley, for being her “Ghostbusters” whenever they got the call.  Coming to bring food and taking her to appointments and cleaning the house and the laundry all other of life’s necessities, you were the “wind beneath her wings”.

As per Sue’s request, cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held at Dunphy’s Funeral Home, Holyrood on Sunday, December 5, 2021 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00.  As per Covid-19 Restrictions, the Covid Passport and a Photo ID will be required to attend the Visitation and Mass. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Hr. Main on Monday, December 6, 2021 at 10:30 am (please arrive 15 to 20 minutes prior to the service so the ushers may scan your NLVaxPass and seat you.) with interment to follow at St. Thomas of Villanova Cemetery, Topsail. For those unable to attend the mass, the service will be livestreamed with the link available below.

If friends so desire, donations in Sue’s memory may be made to the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Care Foundation or The SPCA.