Mary Kennedy

Mary Elizabeth Kennedy died in her home in Old Saybrook on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Born in Torrington, Connecticut on January 29, 1928, Mary was the daughter of the late John Thomas Kennedy and Edith Sanzone Kennedy.
Mary was raised in Torrington and was a graduate of the Torrington High School class of 1945. She became a registered nurse after graduating from St. Francis Nursing School, thereafter receiving a BSN from Southern Connecticut State University (Summa Cum Laude) and a Master's Degree in Nursing from Yale University. Her nursing career, with a particular focus in mental health, spanned over 60 years and she was still working as an APRN when well into her 80s.
Never one to forego an opportunity to speak her mind, Mary became an active member of the Democratic Party at a young age, attending the 1960 Democratic National Convention that nominated John F. Kennedy (no relation), and went on to serve the Party in a variety of capacities in the 1960s and 1970s, including serving as the national treasurer of the Young Democrats and as the Democratic State Central Committeewoman from West Hartford. Her political activism was at once inspired by family tradition and it in turn inspired political activism by numerous younger family members.
Mary lived for a time in Agawam, Massachusetts but for most of her life was a Connecticut resident, living in Torrington, Hartford, West Hartford, Hamden, Enfield, and for the last 21 years, Old Saybrook. Wherever she lived, she got involved in her community, including most recently as a member of the Old Saybrook Democratic Town Committee.
Mary was an essential member of her extended family of Kennedys and Tiernan's, never missing a holiday, birthday, wedding or event. She often traveled with the families on vacations and trips and had a special love for opera and ballet. Her generosity and good humor will be missed.
Mary was predeceased by her brother John Kennedy. She leaves behind her sister, Claire Kennedy Tiernan of Ivoryton, Connecticut, her brother and sister in law Willam and Patricia Kennedy of Granby, and dozens of nephews, nieces, grand nephews, grand nieces, great grand nephews and great grand nieces.
Relatives and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday morning at 11:00 in St. Francis of Assisi Church at St. John Paul the Great Parish, 160 Main Street, Torrington. Burial will follow in St. Francis Cemetery. There are no calling hours.