Phyllis R. (King) Kennedy

Phyllis King Kennedy, Green Bay, passed away unexpectedly at her home on June 22, 2011. She was born November 5, 1939 to Jesse and June (Jaber) King. She attended St. Matthew’s grade school, and graduated from St. Joseph Academy and Mt. Mary College. After graduation she moved to San Francisco with two college friends where she started her career as a social worker. While there, she met her future husband, John (Jack) Kennedy. They were married on January 15, 1966 at Resurrection Church in Allouez. Their three sons, John, Pat and Rob were born in San Francisco. In September of 1971 they returned to Green Bay where they have resided ever since. Phyllis was a stay at home mother until the boys go a little older, then decided to resume her career as a social worker. She worked at Jefferson Manor in Green Bay for eight years, then accepted a job in Manitowoc at St. Mary’s Nursing Home at the Felician Village. After a few years and thousands of miles traveling, she went to work for Woodside Lutheran Nursing Home in Green Bay where she remained until her retirement in May of this year. Phyllis thoroughly enjoyed her profession and has maintained strong, lasting friendships with many of her co-workers. When the boys were in school, she was always involved in school activities. For several years she enjoyed being an active member in the Langlade PTA. When her three sons were attending Abbot Pennings High School she was active in the Parents Club, as well as the Pennings Booster Club. She would always find time to volunteer for Club activities, such as scheduling and training workers for the Pennings concession stand at Lambeau Field during the Packer games. One of her biggest challenges was cooking and organizing the St. Patrick’s Day corned beef and cabbage dinners for the Booster Club. Phyllis was also noted for entering her famous “Out of this World Chocolate Cake” in the Abbot Pennings auction, which would often set off intense bidding wars. Whenever any of her sons were participating in a sports event, she was there to cheer (loudly) for the team. Her greatest enjoyment was following the Abbot Pennings and St. Norbert football teams no matter where they were playing. She enjoyed playing bridge, mystery novels, and, most of all, time spent with her grandchildren. It was a treat for the grandkids to spend an overnight at “Mimi's.” Survivors include her husband, John (Jack) Kennedy; sons: John, Pat (Lisa), and Rob Kennedy; mother, June King; sister, Marnie King; grandkids: Abby and Gavin; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Mike and Donna Kennedy, Forsyth, Montana; sisters-in-law, Mildred Fleiner, Reno, Nevada, and Kathy Kennedy, Billings, Montana; niece, Kristin (Jim) McLaughlin, Evans, Georgia; nephew, Allen (Kimberly) King, Texas; and cousin, Kathy (Jim) Guilliatt, Overland Park, Kansas. She was preceded in death by her father, Jesse King; sister, Christine King; aunt, Mary Jaber; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Peter and Marie Kennedy; brothers-in-law, Joe Kennedy and Bill Fleiner; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Dolores and Robert Rolando. Family and friends may call Sunday, June 26, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N. Webster Ave., De Pere, where there will be a Parish Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will continue on Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the hour of Mass at Resurrection Catholic Church, 333 Hilltop Drive, Allouez. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Monday at church, with Bishop Robert Morneau officiating. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotterfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established. The family would like to express their gratitude and appreciation to Unity Hospice (Molly, Carrie, Heather and Ashley) along with Drs. Mark Schick, Ruth Warren, and Matthew Ryan.