Obituary for William B. "Big Bill" Kennedy
MASSACHUSETTS - William B. “Big Bill” Kennedy, 89, formerly of Massena, peacefully passed away early Thursday Morning, March 21, 2019 at the Life Care Center of Stoneham, Massachusetts.
Bill was born April 16, 1929, in Massena, NY son of the late Hartley G. and Mabel V. (Hawkey) Kennedy. He attended Massena schools and furthered his education at Union College in Schenectady, Syracuse College and at Columbia College in Missouri. He entered the US Army in 1943 and served until his honorable discharge in 1946. He married Thelma D. Shaver on September 2, 1950 at the Anglican Church in Newington, Ontario, Canada.
Bill was a longtime member of the Massena Volunteer Fire Department and is now a member of the Massena Exempts Fireman. In addition he is a life member of the American Legion Post #79, member of the Loyal Order of the Moose in Massena and the Rotterdam House of Elks Lodge in Rotterdam, NY. He was employed at Alcoa until 1958, when he went to work for the NY Power Authority in Massena. In 1968 he transferred to the NY Power Pool’s Central Center in Guilderland where he worked until he retired in 1986.
In 1986 Bill and Thelma moved to Waddington, NY where they lived for 21 years. In 2007 they moved back to Massena where they stayed until 2012 when they moved to Massachusetts to be closer to their son. Bill enjoyed woodworking, golfing, fishing and hunting. Bill was a member of a “Hunting Club” in Waddington for many years. He and Thelma spent winters in Bradenton Florida for 10 years.
Bill is survived by his wife Thelma; his son Terry and Rosemary Kennedy of Boston; his granddaughters Erin and William Disanza III and Carlin and Frank Sparacino of Massachusetts; two brothers, Philip and Barbara Kennedy and Neil and Tina Kennedy, all of Massena; two great grandchildren Tess Disanza and William Disanza IV and many nieces and nephews, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Besides his parents Hartley and Mabel, he was predeceased by and infant son on September 10, 1951; and four brothers, Donald, Robert, Doug and Wayne Kennedy.
There will be no calling hours or funeral service. A graveside service will be held at the Massena Center Cemetery, at a later date.
Bill was born April 16, 1929, in Massena, NY son of the late Hartley G. and Mabel V. (Hawkey) Kennedy. He attended Massena schools and furthered his education at Union College in Schenectady, Syracuse College and at Columbia College in Missouri. He entered the US Army in 1943 and served until his honorable discharge in 1946. He married Thelma D. Shaver on September 2, 1950 at the Anglican Church in Newington, Ontario, Canada.
Bill was a longtime member of the Massena Volunteer Fire Department and is now a member of the Massena Exempts Fireman. In addition he is a life member of the American Legion Post #79, member of the Loyal Order of the Moose in Massena and the Rotterdam House of Elks Lodge in Rotterdam, NY. He was employed at Alcoa until 1958, when he went to work for the NY Power Authority in Massena. In 1968 he transferred to the NY Power Pool’s Central Center in Guilderland where he worked until he retired in 1986.
In 1986 Bill and Thelma moved to Waddington, NY where they lived for 21 years. In 2007 they moved back to Massena where they stayed until 2012 when they moved to Massachusetts to be closer to their son. Bill enjoyed woodworking, golfing, fishing and hunting. Bill was a member of a “Hunting Club” in Waddington for many years. He and Thelma spent winters in Bradenton Florida for 10 years.
Bill is survived by his wife Thelma; his son Terry and Rosemary Kennedy of Boston; his granddaughters Erin and William Disanza III and Carlin and Frank Sparacino of Massachusetts; two brothers, Philip and Barbara Kennedy and Neil and Tina Kennedy, all of Massena; two great grandchildren Tess Disanza and William Disanza IV and many nieces and nephews, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Besides his parents Hartley and Mabel, he was predeceased by and infant son on September 10, 1951; and four brothers, Donald, Robert, Doug and Wayne Kennedy.
There will be no calling hours or funeral service. A graveside service will be held at the Massena Center Cemetery, at a later date.