Mary Grace Kennedy of New Bedford passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 6, 2020 at the age of 64. She was the daughter of the late Mortimer Kennedy and the late Lillian Flanagan Kennedy.
Her survivors include her children: Kristy Acevedo and her husband Eladio of Fairhaven, Brian Brocklehurst and his wife Leeann of Wareham, and Todd Brocklehurst of New Bedford, and four grandchildren, Kylee, Chloe, Cole, and Aubrey. She had 10 siblings: Maureen Kennedy Otis and her husband, Edmund of South Dartmouth, Daniel Kennedy and his wife, Patricia of Yarmouthport, David Kennedy and his wife, Ana of Edinburg, TX, Teresa Kennedy Daigle and her husband, Normand of Fairhaven, Thomas Kennedy of New Bedford, Joseph Kennedy and his wife Susan of Fairhaven, Margaret Kennedy of New Bedford, Annie Kennedy Phelps and her husband Michael of Kennebunk, ME, Kathleen Kennedy, deceased, and Patricia Kennedy, deceased. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.
Mary graduated from Bishop Stang High School where she loved to play basketball. She enjoyed watching science fiction, hated cats, and had a great laugh. Mary was deeply religious and also a realist. She was always willing to speak truth to power. She was an underdog many times in her life, but she was never afraid to start over. Because of this, she dedicated her life to being an advocate for other underdogs. She was proud of her work through the Bristol County Sheriff's Office, working with inmates as an HIV coordinator and addiction counselor, and through Catholic Social Services, working in local shelters. She had 30 years of sobriety through AA, and she helped many in the region on their path to sobriety.
She will be greatly missed.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church on Tuesday, June 16th at 10 am for family and friends of Mary (current 100 person limit). Please use the side entrance only and wear a mask. Her private burial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Lung Association or to an underdog cause of your choice. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.