Mary Catherine Powers Kennard beloved wife of the late John E. Kennard, Sr., daughter of Mary L. and John D. Powers passed away gently on July 5th at her home in Morningside, Milford. Born in Waterbury on August 18, 1919, Mary was a proud graduate of Troup Jr. High, Hillhouse High School and of the College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, N.J. She earned her Master’s Degree at Southern Connecticut State University. Mary started her professional life as a social worker for the State of Connecticut; and, later, was a first grade teacher, educating and nurturing children to their full potential, for decades. She was also one of the original teachers in the Head Start summer program in Milford.

Mary was a faithful communicant of St Agnes Roman Catholic Church, and an early member of Church Women United, an ecumenical group. She volunteered at Milford Hospital, the Woodmont Library, and cuddled premature babies in the neo-natal unit at Yale New Haven Hospital. She loved the beach, her bridge club, her profession and colleagues, and friends. Baked beans and carrot cake were her culinary calling cards. She was an avid reader, faithfully watched Tim Russert and Gwen Ifill, and an ardent supporter of UCONN basketball. She worried a lot, and prayed daily.

Mary was treasured by her children: Mary Elizabeth, Cynthia and her husband Vittorio Morandin, John E. and his wife Martha L., and Suzanne and her husband, Arthur E. Rhatigan, Jr., and, she, in turn, treasured her grandchildren: Jack, Maeve and Elizabeth Kennard, and John and Grace Rhatigan. Mary also loved her nieces, grand nieces and nephews, cousins and great cousins.  The family would like to acknowledge her wonderful caregivers, especially her loving friend Maria Chaber as well her VNS nurse Thierry Coriolan-Beauregard for his support and care.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, July 11th at 10:30 am at St. Agnes Church 400 Merwin Avenue, Milford (MEET DIRECTLY AT CHURCH) with an interment to follow at Saint Mary Cemetery, Milford. Family and friends may call on Monday July 10th from 4PM-8PM at CODY-WHITE FUNERAL HOME 107 N. Broad St Milford, CT 06460. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mary Fund, a donor advised fund created with her dedication to education and reading in mind, at the Valley Community Foundation 253-A Elizabeth Street Derby, CT 06418 or made online at www.valleyfoundation.org, select the Mary Fund.