Obituary of Barbara E. Kennedy

Barbara E. (Bundy) Kennedy, beloved wife, mom and friend, 73, passed away peacefully with her husband Joe at her side at the Sawtelle Hospice House in Reading, MA, on June 8, after a four-year duel with ovarian cancer. She was the beloved wife of 51 years of Joseph Michael Kennedy (82) and loving mother of John Thomas Jefferson Kennedy (49). Barbara was the daughter of John C. and Dorothea M. (Haggerty) Bundy of Sidney, New York. In her childhood and youth, she successfully negotiated small town life in the village she loved, making many lifelong friends. She graduated from the Academy of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament at nearby Broadlea, Goshen, New York in 1968. Barbara began her career in nursing working at several local hospitals before joining New England Rehabilitation in Woburn at its opening. In 1988, Barbara suffered a double brain aneurysm and was flown by Medivac to a specialist at the University of Ontario Hospital in London, Ont. and given only a 50% chance of survival. Following surgery, a week later, she arrived back at Logan Airport to begin a long recovery and a new and happy future. Barbara started a second career in the hospitality field doing catering and functions at several local chain hotels, eventually serving as Functions Manager and Night Manager. She later decided to start her own catering service, hiring former colleagues from the hotels, She continued in this business through 2007, ceasing this venture only as it became too physically demanding. An excellent cook, Barbara loved socializing and entertaining friends poolside at home and, every few years, enjoying a week or two on a cruise ship. Generous, kind, witty and humorous, she was a joy to be with and will be missed but fondly and happily remembered by everyone who knew her. Because Barbara loved animals and wanted to assure that they lived without stress or pain, she was a member of the Humane Society and the A.S.P.C.A. Gifts in her memory might be made to those organizations or, even better, to a local animal shelter. A celebration of Barbara's life will be held in the future at a date yet to be determined.