MADISON - Five days before her 99th birthday, Mary Mildred Gaffney Kennedy went peacefully to sleep and then to heaven.

Mary was born February 18, 1919 to Thomas and Mildred (Harbort) Gaffney. She lived nearly her entire life on Madison’s Isthmus and was always proud of the three generations of her Irish/German ancestors who helped build this city. Her grandparents operated the Sherlock Hotel on King Street and her uncle, Anthony Gaffney was an alderman. She loved growing up on Sherman Avenue where she swam all summer in Lake Mendota.

In June, 1935, when Mary was 16, she attended the baptismal dinner for her good friend, Marian Kennedy’s youngest brother, Patrick. There, she met Marian’s cousin, a handsome, blue-eyed, strapping (body-by-Fisher) 18-year-old farm boy named Martin Kennedy. After the dinner party, Mary, Martin, Marion and Jim Tierney attended the Strand Theatre on the Square where they saw the double feature “The Glass Key” and “The Broadway Gondolier.” Mary attended Central High School and graduated in 1937. In 1940, five years after they met, Mary and Martin went on their first date. They were engaged for four years while Martin served with the WWII Army Air Force building airports across northern Africa and Italy.

On August 18, 1945, they were married at St. Patrick’s Church. They moved to a home built by Mary’s grandfather on Lakeland Avenue. They were long-time members of St. Bernard Church. Together they enjoyed 42 years in the Hudson Park Neighborhood with good friends in the Shamrock Club, the Elks Club, golfing and most of all, with their children and grandchildren. Mary worked for many years with Madison schools and in the superintendent’s office.

Mary was preceded in death by Martin in 1987, her brother, Philip Gaffney in 2003, sister-in-law, Joyce Gaffney in 2016, sister Jeanne (Hugh) Wallace in 2017 and daughter, Mary Jeanne Kennedy (Dave) Anderson in 2013.

Mary is survived by her sister Ellen (Jerry) Brannan; sister-in-law, Millie (John) Kennedy; brother-in-law, Richard (Joan) Kennedy; daughters, Maureen (Robert) Boelter, Marilyn (Ken) Greenwald; son, Martin “Mick” (Sue) Klein Kennedy; grandchildren Sarah (Matt) Caflisch, Kristine (Patrick) Moses, David (Sara) Anderson, Matthew (McKenzie) Anderson and Joe (Jeff) Anderson, Bridget (Jeremiah) Wegner, Bobby Kennedy Boelter, Mollie (Beau) Simms and Casey Klein Kennedy (Chloe); great-grandchildren, Anna, Norah, Bryce, Blake, Emily, David, John, Charlotte, Oliver, Eliza, Mia, Nicholas, Daisy, Dani and 50 nieces and nephews.

Heartfelt thanks to the kind and gentle staff at Ingleside Manor in Mt. Horeb, for the care given to Mary.

A celebration of Mary’s life and a family reunion will be held September 30, 2018 at Korth County Park in Lake Mills, WI. Memorials can be made to the Mary Jeanne Kennedy Anderson Youth Scholarship Fund c/o Catholic Charities, 702 S. High Point Road, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53719 or at ccmadison.org. To view and sign this guestbook and to receive information on the reunion, please visit www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services
2418 N. Sherman Ave.
608-249-8257

Mary Kennedy

February 18, 1919 - February 13, 2018

Share memories of Mary