Barbara S. "Bobbie" Kennedy

BARBARA S. "BOBBIE" KENNEDY, (nee Humphrey), age 95, entered into eternal life August 15, 2025. Beloved wife of the late Roger F. "Podge" Kennedy. Devoted mother of Kathleen Cianca (Stephen, deceased), Karen Frey (Peter), Diane Lange (Ken), David (Karen), Sherry, Patty, Joan, Mary Lou and Sue Benevento (John). Dear Gramma of Joshua (Katie Queeney), Laura (Chris Anderson), and Jeffrey Cianca, Matt Frey (Liz Helfrich), Veronica Hovhannisyan (Mika), Catherine St. Germain (Jacob), Thomas (Amanda) and Philip Kennedy, Jim and Abby Glass, Rebecca Shapiro, Michael, Adam and Maria Benevento. Cherished Great-Gramma of Molly Kennedy. Sister of Harry D. Humphrey (Dorothy, deceased). Loving aunt, great aunt and friend of many.
Born and raised in the same house in Lakewood, Ohio, Bobbie enjoyed a happy childhood with her parents and only brother, Harry. Bobbie was a proud and devoted alumni of Lakewood High School January class of 1948. Her childhood was framed by the Great Depression, and later the advent of World War II. Rationing, reusing, recycling, and couponing were a way of life that gave Bobbie the skills she would later use to effortlessly command a daily household of eleven.
Bobbie met her future husband Podge shortly after graduating from high school, although they would not marry for five years while both pursued college. She graduated in 1952 with a BS degree in psychology from Denison University where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Bobbie remained an active Tri-Delta alumni for the next 75 years, proudly earning her Diamond Jubilee pin in 2024.
Bobbie and Podge married on September 12, 1953, and began married life in their shared hometown of Lakewood. They moved to Bay Village three years later, a move they always credited as being one of the best decisions of their lives. They joined St. Raphael Catholic Church and settled down to raise their family of nine children. Bobbie always lamented that she wasn't blessed with sisters, and her three, much older cousins lived half a continent away. As a result, Bobbie was very intentional and always prioritized her relationships and close bonds of friendships with others, cultivating cherished lifelong friends. She never let her daughters forget how blessed they were to have sisters, and nurtured those bonds to last a lifetime. It also meant the world to Bobbie that her children were similarly blessed to grow up alongside a large brood of same-aged cousins who lived near-by, relationships she spent a lifetime nurturing and supporting as a beloved aunt and godmother.
Bobbie and Podge were avid Cleveland sports fans, notably supporting the Indians/Guardians and the Browns. Together they attended some of the most iconic sporting events in the city's history. Bobbie had a passion for being physically active long before it became fashionable, and regularly enjoyed ice skating, tennis and swimming well into her golden years. Bobbie was also an avid bridge player. All of these hobbies and activities brought her a lifetime of joy and ever-expanding friendships.
When the youngest child in the family was in school full time, Bobbie returned to work, joining the staff at St. Raphael School where all her children attended. She transitioned from a librarian to a government clerk with the installation of mobile units in the 1970's. Among her other duties, Bobbie lovingly escorted a generation of students to and from the mobile unit for 23 years, where they received interventions from the special services team. Bobbie remained a cherished colleague.
Bobbie and Podge embraced their faith and growing brood of grandchildren as they settled into retirement. After losing her beloved Podge in 2007, Bobbie remained determined to make the most of life. With an adventurous spirit, she traveled the world visiting castles and churches across Israel, England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy and France. One of Bobbie's
bucket-list trips was to go to Paris and Normandy, where the D-Day invasion is commemorated, a trip she took in 2017.
Bobbie was forever generous with her time, talents and treasures, always willing to lend a hand, a meal, or prayers of support. She was a devout and faithful parishioner for 69 years, most recently volunteering with the Marthas. Bobbie loved nothing more than to be surrounded by her large family, who embraced her with love, prayer and song as she entered into eternal rest.
Funeral Mass 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 22 at St. Raphael Church, 525 Dover Center Road, Bay Village. Interment Lakewood Park Cemetery. FRIENDS MAY CALL IN THE McGORRAY-HANNA FUNERAL HOME OF WESTLAKE, 25620 CENTER RIDGE ROAD (west of Columbia Road) ON THURSDAY AUGUST 21 FROM 3 – 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to St. Raphael Church.
Mass will be live-streamed at http://tiny.cc/bkennedy