Joan Kennedy Dent

Barbara Joan Kennedy Dent died on November 12, 2023 after a period of declining health. Born December 11, 1935 in Coral Gables, Joan attended Coral Gables High School and the University of Florida where she was a Chi Omega and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Sweetheart. She met James McBride Dent, Mack, in Gainesville and they eloped on April 28, 1955.
Joan and Mack lived in Coral Gables and Atlanta before moving to Jacksonville in 1960. They raised their two daughters in Arlington and Joan attended Jacksonville University to complete both an undergraduate degree and a Master's Degree in Education. To Joan, being a teacher defined her life. Her forty-eight year career included positions as a classroom teacher and principal at St. Andrews Episcopal Day School, followed by teaching positions at Southside Middle and Beaches Chapel. After retirement, Joan was a substitute teacher in St. Johns County. She only stopped substituting when she could no longer drive.
The Alderman Park years were very happy. The girls attended Terry Parker and Joan and Mack had wonderful neighbors who became lifelong friends. They bought a little chalet, Dentwood, in Highlands, North Carolina where Joan had vacationed since she was a child.
She and Mack moved to Sawgrass in 1998 where they were members of Christ Church. Once again, they formed strong friendships with their neighbors and spent a lot of time at the beach. Joan remained a member of The Ponte Vedra Club for fifty-five years.
She is preceded in death by her husband of sixty-two years, parents Ray and Frances Kennedy, brother Jim Kennedy, nephew Tom Dent, and brother-in-law Jack Dent. She is survived by her daughters: Laurie Nash (Bill) and Jennifer Coker (Jeff), grandchildren: William Nash (Leanna), Kennedy Smith, Laura Kalkines (Alex) and Harley Smith (Jazlyn), and 9 great-grandchildren: Laurie, William, James, George, and Martha Nash, Francesca and Penelope Kalkines, and Andy and Rosie Smith. Her grandchildren called her 'Mema'. She is also survived by her brother-in-law Lowell Dent, eight nephews and a niece.
"God, Family, Country" was Joan's favorite phrase and her life reflected it. She loved Jesus from a young age and looked forward to every single Christian and patriotic holiday and family celebration.
The last six years were spent in a little cottage in the yard between her daughter's and grandson's houses in Avondale. There she had daily interactions with three generations of family, neighbors, the dogs and the chickens. The family is most grateful for the friendship and care she received this past year from caregivers Donna, Sharon, and Verona.
The graveside service is at Oaklawn Cemetery on Monday, November 20 at 2:30. A Memorial Mass will follow at 4:00 at St. Paul's Catholic Church on Park Street in Riverside with reception after.