Obituary: Kennedy, Dorothea Louise (Whitfield)
Age 85
(Whitfield)
Passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on April 4, 2012 in Spokane, WA.
She was 85.
Dorothea was born on July 5, 1926 in Avon, Idaho to Ruby and Harry Whitfield and was the second of their five children (Eleanor, Dorothea, Charles, Barbara, and Joann).
She was descended from the earliest settlers of Spokane.
Dorothea was raised in Spokane and attended Moran Prairie Elementary and Lewis and Clark High School.
Eager to make her own way in the world, she left home at age 15 and worked as a nanny on Rockwood Blvd.
attending high school at night.
At age 19, she married John Sidney Kennedy, on February 28, 1946 as he was just beginning a 20-year career in the U.S. Navy.
The couple was stationed at naval air stations in Seattle, WA; Mofitt Field, CA; Barbers Point, HI; Iwakuni and Tokyo, Japan.
They had two children: a son, Gordon Edward and a daughter, Marcy Dee.
After Sid retired, they settled in San Lorenzo, CA where she focused on raising their children and pursuing the hobbies she enjoyed so much: sewing, crocheting, needlework, reading, and building fabulous dollhouses with Sid which were extraordinary works of art.
At age 44 she returned to school to follow her passion and became a licensed vocational nurse, graduating third highest in her class.
She worked at San Leandro Memorial Hospital in California before illness forced her to retire.
Her life became a struggle fighting a battle with atherosclerosis which eventually took both her lower legs.
But a more determined woman you have never seen as she became a familiar sight zipping around on her little scooter.
Although she was supposed to be careful of her fragile health, she was constantly on the go with all of her hobbies.
At age 80 she and Sid moved back to Spokane.
The loves of her life were her husband, children, grandchildren, sisters and brother.
Dorothea will be dearly missed by all who have known her.
She is preceded in death by her son, Gordon Kennedy and sister, Eleanor Kenyon, who passed away only five days prior.
She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Sid Kennedy; daughter, Marcy Heldt; son-in-law, Carl Heldt; grandsons : Erik Heldt, Morgan Heldt, and Kristopher Heldt; granddaughter, Rachel Blanche; sister and brother-in-law Barbara and Dan Hoagland of Spokane; sister and brother-in-law Joann and Dick Bastian of Spokane; and brother and sister-in-law Charles and Shirley Whitfield of Weidman, Michigan.
A celebration of Dorothea’s life will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, April 11th at the Moran United Methodist Church at 3601 E 65th Avenue in Spokane.
Reverends Barbara Caviezel and Betty Smith will officiate.
Interment will be done privately at a later date.