Eugenia Kennedy

Obituary of Eugenia Kennedy Eugenia Smith Kennedy, 84, Lady Lake, Florida passed from this earth on Thursday, November 29, 2012, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on May 25, 1928 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Raised in a home filled with classical music, opera and harmonizing in song, her childhood involved frequent moves, living in multiple towns stretching across Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, finally settling in Riverton and then later Moorestown, New Jersey. Known to her family and friends as 'Jean', she graduated in 1946 from Palmyra High School, where her musical and theatrical talents blossomed, as a member of the school Choir, Glee Club, Band and actor for the Senior Play. For a brief time Jean attended Beaver College Glenside, PA as a vocal and music major before selecting marriage and motherhood as her life's career, yet the yearning remained to fulfill her dream of becoming a professional vocalist. She left her New Jersey roots to live in Virginia Beach, VA to be closer to her grandchildren, where she rekindled her dream and vocal training, performing as a tenor with Sweet Adelines. While living in VA she became known to many as 'Gina'. An active patron of the arts the Virginia Opera, Virginia Symphony, Little Theatre of Virginia Beach, Virginia Musical Theatre, and played a cameo role in the movie Atlantis Down, MaXaM Productions. She was a member of the Adam Thoroughgood Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, and a former member of the Beach Suburban Republican Woman's Club. 'Gina' recently made Florida her permanent residence and Virginia Beach, VA her second home. She continued her love of music, the opera through her participation as a member of the choir for the Church on the Square, Spanish Springs and in supporting the Central Florida Lyric Opera and The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to her passion for music and singing, she enjoyed playing golf, bridge, dancing, entertaining with family and friends, hosting many a visiting musician/vocalist for the Virginia Opera Association Guild and Virginia Symphony; and traveling abroad, but was always ready to return to her home and her precious dog Corky. Her spouse, Gene Hite, his family and her precious Corky survive Gina. Left to cherish her memory is her loving family, daughter, Sandy C. Bowie and husband Tuck, and their children Bryan and Katie; son Porter B. Caldwell, III and wife Yvonne and their crew of dogs; the Dick Kennedy family-Jean Kennedy, Richard Garcia-Kennedy and wife Norma, their son Ian; Tom Kennedy and wife Lisa, their children Jason and Krista; and her beloved fraternal twin sister, Ibby Cain and children-Missy Cain, Roger Tees, Gordon Tees, David Tees, Glenn Tees and families; and her dear nieces Joanna Soares, Melinda Ward, Laura Smith and Nila Fowler and their families of Eugenia's deceased brother. A family gathering will be held in May 2013 at the Smith family grave site located in Mechanicsburg, PA where she will be laid to rest, joining her father David O. Smith, mother Eugenia A. Smith; brother Joseph A. Smith; her previous husband, Dick Kennedy, and her paternal great-grandparents, grand aunts and uncles. Her children are planning a musical tribute celebrating the life of their mother Eugenia Smith Kennedy; a concert reflecting her love of music will feature the most cherished music and vocals that she embraced her entire life. Concert information will be forth coming once a date, time and location(s) are finalized. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate that memorial contributions be made in Gina's memory to the Central Florida Lyric Opera, Inc. 5111 Clarcona Ocoee Road, Orlando, FL 32810, 877-211-5346 (toll free), 407-292-2143, www.centralfloridalyricopera.org; Virginia Opera Association, P.O. Box 2580, Norfolk, VA (757-627-9545; or Burlington County Animal Alliance, c/o Loraine Schrieber at 7 Pioneer Lane, Willingboro, NJ 08046; and in keeping with the spirit of the Christmas season, please do a random act of kindness for someone less fortunate. Services A family gathering will be held in May 2013 at the Smith family grave site located in Mechanicsburg, PA where she will be laid to rest, joining her father David O. Smith, mother Eugenia A. Smith; brother Joseph A. Smith; her previous husband, Dick Kennedy, and her paternal great-grandparents, grand aunts and uncles. Memorial Donations In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate that memorial contributions be made in Gina's memory to the Central Florida Lyric Opera, Inc. 5111 Clarcona Ocoee Road, Orlando, FL 32810, 877-211-5346 (toll free), 407-292-2143, www.centralfloridalyricopera.org; Virginia Opera Association, P.O. Box 2580, Norfolk, VA (757-627-9545; or Burlington County Animal Alliance, c/o Loraine Schrieber at 7 Pioneer Lane, Willingboro, NJ 08046.

Eugenia Kennedy

May 25, 1928 - November 29, 2012