MANCHESTER – Benoit J. “Ben” Kennedy, 84, died Friday, Aug. 9, 2019, at Riverside Healthcare Facility with his wife by his side, after a courageous battle with dementia.
He was born April 4, 1935, in Baker Lake, New Brunswick, second eldest of eight children born to the late Victor J. Kennedy and Laura (Collin) Kennedy. Ben worked for Brunelli Construction of Southington for most of his life where he was part of the Teamsters Local 677. He retired in 1993. In his retirement, he was able to spend time with his family, the most important thing in his life.
He also enjoyed working on cars, fishing, carpentry, shooting pool and bowling with his bowling league. He was a parishioner of St. Mary Magdalene Church in Oakville.
Ben is survived by his wife, Odette (Caron) Pelletier Kennedy; two sons, Michael Kennedy and his wife, Brenda, of Georgia, Steven Kennedy and his wife, Mary, of Meriden; two daughters-in-law, Lori Kennedy of Prospect, and John Kennedy of Watertown; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Robert Kennedy and his wife, Marilyn, of South Carolina, and Norman Kennedy and his wife, Fernando, of Waterbury; a sister, Jacqueline Soucy of New Brunswick; and several nieces and nephews; two stepsons, Gaston Pelletier and his wife, Joyce Martin, of East Hartford, and Luc Pelletier and Pamela Holmes of Florida; a stepdaughter, Nancy Parandes and her husband, John, of East Hartford; four step-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren; and many stepbrothers and stepsisters and their families. In addition to his parents, and his late wife, the mother of his children, Georgette (Beaulieu) Kennedy, he was predeceased by two sons, Andrew and Daniel Kennedy; brothers Roger Kennedy and his wife, Dolande, and Madard Kennedy and his wife, Elaine, two sisters, Dora and Marie-Mai; and a stepson, Michael Pelletier.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, 10 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalene Church, 16 Buckingham St., Oakville. There will be no calling hours. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Watertown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., I-91 Tech Ctr., Rocky Hill, CT 06067-30454; or the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005.
The family would like to thank the staff at Riverside Healthcare Facility for the loving care they gave to Ben, especially his nurses, Sherry and Pedro.
Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home, Manchester, is in care of his arrangements. To leave an online message of condolence for his family, please visit www.holmeswatkins.com
