Anna (Gibson) Kennedy: Loving
Mother, grandmother, great grandmother
Anna (Gibson) Kennedy joined the love of her life, Arlie
Cecil Kennedy, in heaven on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at the age of 97.
Anna was born to Robert and Iva Gibson on December 18, 1921
in Youngsville, PA where she attended a one room school house through eighth
grade and graduated from Youngsville High School in 1939. She was introduced to her handsome young
Cecil by her boss at Irwin Manufacturing Company, and they were married during
a blizzard on December 30,1944, just before Cecil was deployed for Army
duty. In 1955, they moved their family
from Pennsylvania to Hinsdale, NY.
Anna was a kind, gentle, compassionate, creative, and
talented woman who was active in the community and gave much more than she ever
received as evidenced by the eight foster children she took into her home. She worked at Hinsdale Central School for 14
years as a teacher’s aide. She was
infamous for her homemade peach and other pies that she baked for The Hut, a
family-owned restaurant as well as her Santa cookies, enjoyed by all and a
tradition she has passed down through the generations. She was an active and dedicated life member
of the American Legion Auxiliary and participated in the Olean General Hospital
Sewing Group, Hinsdale Guys and Gals Senior Group and the Busyettes.
When she was not crafting or baking, Anna was bragging about
her daughters, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren, feeding the
birds, cuddling with her animals (real and stuffed), building puzzles, reading
Harlequin romances, and solving crossword puzzles.
Anna is survived by her two loving daughters, Kathleen (Dean)
Benham of Cuba, NY and Sue (Larry) Farrar of Lancaster, NY; four grandchildren,
Kurt (Kirsten) Benham of Cuba, NY, Kellie (Rick) Page of Lansing, NY, Patrick
(Beth) Farrar of Lancaster, NY and Melinda (Ryan) Willard of Lancaster, NY; eight great grandchildren;
a brother, Bobby (Carolyn)Gibson; a sister, Mary Daniels and several nieces and
nephews.
Besides her husband, she is predeceased by her parents and
her brothers, Norm, Francis and Roger.
The family would like to send a special thank you to the
incredible staff at The Pines of Machias for their devoted and compassionate
care of Anna over the past two years.
Friends will be received at the Mark F Rinker Funeral Home
& Memorial Service, 9 Bull Street, Cuba, on Saturday, January 26 from 10:00
A.M-12:00 P.M. at which time a Funeral Service will be held. Pastor Becky Worth
will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s
Children’s Research Hospital or to The Friends of the Pines, 9822, Route 16, PO
Box 310, Machias, NY, 14101.
