Bernard Michael Kennedy,'s Obituary
Bernard Michael Kennedy III, age 73, of Huntersville, went to be with the Lord on August, 14, 2018 at his home. Michael was born on March 10, 1945 in Portsmouth, VA to the late Bernard and Margaret Kennedy.
Michael received a BA from Minnesota State University, Mankato and an MBA from Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey. He served for two years with the army and was a Vietnam veteran.
Michael worked at Bendix Corporation for several years before joining Schering Plough Pharmaceutical Corporation in 1972 retiring in 2005 as a Financial Director.
Michael and JoAnn were married in 1972. They had two children, Scott and Elizabeth, and lived in Short Hills, New Jersey for 35 years. He was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. He and JoAnn were active in raising funds for Inner-City Catholic Schools to provide education opportunities for needy students. Later they helped send several students to Catholic Prep schools including St. Benedict’s. One of those students is Brother Simon Peter Clayton, O.S.B.’08 now a monk at Newark Abbey. As a high school student, Simon made several summer trips to North Carolina visiting different attractions. In addition to financial support they attended parent teacher conferences, choral concerts and honor roll inductions and sports events to provide moral support. He also treated students to dinner at restaurants and tickets to cultural events opening their eyes to life outside of Newark. Michael, JoAnn their children and grandchildren were blessed by the visit of Brother Simon just days prior to his passing.
In 2006 they moved to Huntersville, North Carolina, and were members of St. Mark Catholic Church where Michael served as a Eucharistic minister.
After retirement, Michael and JoAnn traveled several months each year to Ireland, Mallorca, or Lyon, France to visit their three grandchildren. In 2015 and 2017 they were blessed with two more granddaughters making additional trips to New York City to be with them as well.
Wanting to give something to his grandchildren he took up needlepoint and made many pieces including large Christmas stockings for each grandchild. He also enjoyed playing golf.
He is survived by his wife JoAnn Marie Kennedy; son, Scott of Lyon, France; daughter-in-law Evelyn of Cork, Ireland; daughter, Elizabeth Hill (Matt) of New York, NY; siblings, Barbara Kennedy and Deborah Kennedy; and grandchildren, Grace, Bernard, Robert, Helen Grace and Alexandra Marie.
In lieu of flowers, his wish was to provide scholarship funds to needy students at Christ the King Catholic High School in Huntersville. Memorials may be made to the Michael and JoAnn Kennedy Charitable Education Fund and mailed to: RSM Attn: David Winslow 300 S. Tryon St. Suite 1500, Charlotte, NC 28202.
A prayer service will be held at 6 PM Friday, August 17 at James Funeral Home with a visitation to follow from 6:30 – 8 PM.
A memorial mass and burial service will be held in September at St. Rose of Lima Church in Short Hills, NJ.
James Funeral Home of Huntersville, NC is serving the family. www.jamesfuneralhomeLKN.com
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