My mom’s story: Barbara G. Kennedy.
Mom was born in Oshawa Ontario. She was the oldest of 4 sisters (Marylyn/Ray Vincent, Nola/Al Essery, Margo/Deb Tilk and Linda/Hal Sellen) and 1 brother Don/Evelyn McClennen. She passed away this past summer in Calgary, her second Canadian home of over 30 years.

Her drive and passion for accomplishing and creating art started at a young age. She started her first job when she was 15.

Mom married my dad Nicholas Kennedy and together they built their forever home over 7 years; debt free. My dad’s love of wood and woodworking, and my mom’s love of fabric built and created a home.

They had a wide circle of friends, plus their families and groups they were involved with; dad with furniture building, antique purchasing and refinishing; and mom with her rug hooking and sewing. They loved to camp in our tent trailer at provincial parks, as well as on long road trips. Ironically when I was young, our family camped in west Calgary at a campground (Happy Valley), which is now a neighbourhood - where Walter and I live!

Mom, her siblings, and her mother were/are all very creative and loved arts. Mom became a well known rug hooker and often either attended or taught at rug hooking camps in North America. When mom moved to Alberta after dad passed away too early, she was in a rug hooking group within a week. She showed her rugs at several Calgary Stampedes and won ribbons but was more interested in having others’ work displayed.

She also continued sewing; quilts were her other love after her rugs. She made some gorgeous quilts of which we are thankful to own and use. She later made quilts for charity, first for the Sheldon Kennedy foundation for family abuse victims, and then for veterans, donating over 100.

She enjoyed her trips to Cuba and Mexico also. And she had proudly visited every part of Canada, from northern communities to southern cities, and from the Rocky Mountains to Newfoundland. She loved the Rockies and came camping with us and then later day trips out to some favourite locations west of Calgary.

She actively participated in her Retirement Residence and was also a welcome resident for newcomers. She lived there almost 6 years.

When mom was asked recently what she was most proud of, her reply was “her family, and that she was a Canadian”. Her family in Alberta was me, and Walter my husband. (I’m an only child). He did everything from changing her tires for winter, to keeping her stocked with wines she liked.

My mom also became a dog lover once she moved to Alberta in 1990. She loved all of our 8 dogs we’d homed while she was in Alberta (6 of which were cocker spaniels, including 4 rescues from both families and Rescue Organization), and welcomed them to her lap.

At the end mom got covid from a resident in her retirement home. She fought covid and pneumonia for over 10 weeks but it took her. She was well cared for and one of us visited every day except 2 days. She had full support of busy staff at South Health Campus and then at Sarcee Care West, the staff could not have been more accommodating, encouraging and caring. She said more than once how fortunate she was to be there with the care they gave her.

She would be pleased to offer the suggestion of donating to a special local dog rescue group Alberta Cocker Rescue albertacockerrescue@gmail.com and it is deposited to Donna K who helps manage the Rescue, or of course to a charity of your choice if you wish.

With the help and support of mom’s friends we have donated her rug hooking wool, and her quilting fabric to groups she was involved with; the materials going to less fortunate members, and volunteers who create to donate to charities.
She knew I was taking her back to Oshawa Ontario to be with my dad who was laid to rest in the Veterans’ area of Thornton Cemetery. She was placed with my dad on her birthday in November. Without being asked, the cemetery had lowered the Canadian flag to half mast for her. The circle is closed.

Miss you mom, and eternally thankful for all of the wonderful years and memories we have/had. You continued to guide and love us throughout our lives. . We will see you and dad, and families and the pups again.

Love Kathy and Walter and Indie and now Maggie Tarnowetski (an Alberta Cocker Rescue)