Elizabeth G. Kennedy

“Climb Every Mountain” Elizabeth “Betty” E. (Gordon) Kennedy, age 93 of Penn Valley, passed away peacefully after a brief illness, on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at Rosewood Gardens Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Broomall. Born in Allentown to the late Glen and Elizabeth (Holden) Gordon, Betty spent her childhood in various cities until her family settled in Merion, where she graduated from the Baldwin School, Class of 1944. She then earned her general degree from Bradford Junior College in Haverhill, MA. After college, Betty worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and then First Pennsylvania Bank, which was when she met her late husband, Dr. Richard W. Kennedy at church. They were married, settling in Penn Valley, and together they lovingly raised their son and daughter. They shared over 51 years of marriage until his passing in October 2000. Betty was an avid and award winning gardener, having a particular interest in roses. She was a past member of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the Garden Club of Penn Valley. She loved going to Longwood Gardens with her family and friends, especially every summer to see the annual Brandywiners outdoor theater productions. She was proud of the fact that she attended performances for over 71 consecutive summers right up until last summer. Betty loved sailing on the Chesapeake Bay with her family and friends for many years, and had been a proud member of the Main Line Power Squadron since 1969. She earned several honors for her service and assistance helping the education program over the years. She was also a member and past president of the Mainstays, which was the women’s auxiliary of the MLPS. She cherished countless annual winter trips with her family and friends to Skytop Lodge in the Poconos over the years. Betty loved the beaches of the Jersey Shore, vacationing every summer with family and friends in Avalon, NJ at the Whitebrier Hotel and the Desert Sand Resort for many years. On those summer vacations, she loved going to Stone Harbor for the annual Springer’s ice cream sodas, visiting her favorite restaurants, swimming in the ocean, shopping in her favorite stores with her daughter, and also secretly hiding her purchases from her husband, deep in the back of the car. Betty and her husband were fortunate enough, in later years, to travel the world and took memorable trips to Great Britain, Scotland, England, France, Switzerland, and Holland. They also cruised to Bermuda and through the Panama Canal. They took countless annual winter trips by way of the Amtrak Auto Train to Longboat Key, FL to visit with friends. Since 1963, Betty had been a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She loved ice skating, teaching her children how to skate and was also a past member of the Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society for many years. Enjoying Godiva Chocolate, making milkshakes for her children, and baking were a few of her other favorite pastimes. But most of all, Betty treasured the time that she was able to share with her family, whether the visits were short, long, or on the telephone. She was a gifted listener and always had good common sense advice that would help motivate her family to “climb every mountain”. She was always eager to hear whatever was going on in the lives of those she loved. She was a wonderful, loving and supportive mother and grandmother and will be sadly missed indeed. Betty is survived by her son Richard Kennedy, Jr. of Glen Mills; her daughter Peggy Schumacher and husband Oswald of Vineland, NJ; one brother Glen Gordon, Jr. and companion Beth of San Antonio, TX; one grandson Jeffrey Lambert and wife Melanie of Millville, NJ; and two great-grandkiddos, Caleb and Madison. She was predeceased by her husband Dr. Richard W. Kennedy, D.D.S. Private graveside services for Betty will be conducted in the West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd. Memorial contributions in memory of Betty may be made to the Disabled American Veterans at the website: dav.org; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at the website: stjude.org; or to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 5028, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5028 or at the website: giving.mskcc.org. Memories and expressions of sympathy for Elizabeth Kennedy may be shared on the Obituary Tribute Wall at: www.chadwickmckinney.com.

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Elizabeth G. Kennedy

October 17, 1926 - May 5, 2020