Cynthia Canivan Kennedy

Longtime Westport

Resident

Cynthia Canivan Kennedy, 68, daughter of the late Ted and Lucille Canivan of Easton, Penn., died July 14 at Waterbury Hospital from complications of cancer.

Mrs Kennedy graduated from Wilson High School in Easton in 1956 and worked as a dental assistant in Easton until her marriage to Thomas G. Kennedy in 1959.

She is survived by her husband; and two daughters, Kathleen Kennedy Skewis of Newtown and Colleen Kennedy Frost of Fairfield. Two sisters, Mary Lee Ely and Thelma McKeown; a brother, Edward Canivan; and four grandchildren, Megan and Tommy Frost, and Kelly and Brendan Skewis, also survive Mrs Kennedy.

Mrs Kennedy became a full-time homemaker after the birth of her daughters. For 27 years she and her family lived in Westport where she was active in church, school, and community affairs. The Japanese garden she and her husband created was much admired and she invited school children to view it and to interact with her many animals.

The parishioners of St Luke’s in Westport will long remember the Palm Sundays when her donkey, Finnegan, carried the palms down the aisle.

She and her husband moved to Bonita Springs, Fla., in 1997, where she enjoyed many activities until her illness. After a lengthy convalescence in Florida, Mrs Kennedy was flown to Connecticut to be near her daughters.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on July 20 in St Thomas Aquinas Church, Fairfield. Interment followed in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Fairfield.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Spear-Miller Funeral Home 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield.

The Newtown Bee        July 21, 2006