Virginia Kennedy

"Ginny" Kennedy, an amazing wife, mother and friend passed away on January 22, 2009 after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease, which she fought valiantly. She was 85 year's young. Ginny is survived by her husband of 55 years, Joseph A. Kennedy; her children, Kathleen, Michael and Denise; her brother, John Bogolea; her sister-in-law, Mary Kennedy; along with lots of extended family and friends, scattered across the globe.

Ginny was born May 26, 1923 in East Chicago, Indiana, and shared a wonderful life with her Romanian family; Mom and Dad, Emelia and John Bogolea, her sister, Ann, and brother, John. Early in her life, after experiencing family tragedy, she and her brother came to live with their grandmother in northern California, where she lived until she met the love of her life (more about that later.) Not one to let life pass her by, she excelled in her young life in California.

As a young woman, Ginny held an exciting job as a secretary with the State of California, and spent her personal time volunteering as a "Gray Lady" for a local hospital, and as a Canteen Hostess for USO canteens. Ginny often told stories of the wonderful life she lived as a young woman, happy and carefree, riding the trolleys in San Francisco with her friends to enjoy the plays, ballets, and operas so abundant in that beautiful city, or about dancing the nights away with handsome, uniformed soldiers at USO canteen dances during the war years of the 1940's, or about enjoying dinner with her friends at the legendary St. Francis Hotel at Union Square in San Francisco. She told many times how she and her friends said, "Meet me under the clock," which referred to the historic grandfather clock for which the St. Francis was…and is…famous. She told of the day she and several of her friends were chatting at a local drug store soda fountain, and she was approached by a man who gave her his business card, asking her to come to a movie studio in Los Angeles for a screen test! Although she didn't call that business man, her friends talked about how dreamy it might've been if she'd made it in show business, playing a part in a movie opposite heart throb of the day, Van Johnson!

After the war, she pursued her career further, and told how she had NO time to get serious with any young man…although many were calling for her. Her exotic, movie star looks only drew them to her! She worked as a secretary for the State of California, Unemployment Office. She continued to volunteer her time as a Gray Lady, and was also on call for dances held at army camps in the area. At these dances, she was one of the friendly gals that soldiers and sailors talked and danced with before they shipped out to fight for their country.

It was during this time, Ginny met her own handsome soldier during a dance at Camp Stoneman, in Pittsburg, CA. This camp was the jumping off point for millions of servicemen destined for military operations in the Pacific during World War II and the Korean War. Joseph A. Kennedy, a fighter pilot in the Air Force, had been recalled to active duty, and was being shipped overseas to Okinawa in the early 1950's. She couldn't forget her short time with her soldier, Joe. In the following months, Joe wrote often to her from Okinawa. He told her about the tropical setting, about job openings with the Army, and asked her to join him there. After talking it over with her family and friends, she decided to throw caution to the wind. She got busy applying for a passport, and a job. A few short months later, she followed her love to Okinawa. "Who knows," she thought, "maybe marriage could finally be a good option!" She arrived by ship, and it took almost 2 weeks to make the crossing!

In Okinawa, she worked for an Army Colonel, spent time dating her handsome lieutenant, and had fun making lots of new friends. She was even offered a high-powered job as the personal secretary to the Army General! But, she now had a choice to make and decided to turn down the job because she was finally getting married! Ginny and Joe were married on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1953, followed by an idyllic, romantic honeymoon in Hong Kong.

Ginny and Joe settled into married life on Okinawa. She told of how they lived in a Quonset hut, and how she could hear the monster-sized bugs scratching on the ceiling of their living quarters at night! She also told of the typhoons that regularly struck the area, and how scary and destructive they were.

On Dec. 1, 1953, Joe and Ginny welcomed their first daughter, Kathleen into the world.. The new family traveled back to the United States 6 weeks later, when Joe stationed in New Mexico. Ginny often said, after spending 4 weeks on the water, she was not doing it again. She kept her promise, and the family was never able to talk her into doing any type of cruise!

While Joe was stationed in Missouri, at Richards Gebaur Air Force Base, Ginny gave birth to their first son, Michael, on Nov. 28, 1956. The young family lived in a farm house outside Belton, Missouri. Ginny often told how Joe would "buzz" their house as he flew by, tipping the wings of his plane, in greeting. Seven years later, Ginny gave birth to their second daughter, Denise, on Mother's Day, May 12, 1963, while Joe was stationed in Ft. Lee, Virginia. Ginny always said that Denise was her special Mother's Day gift.

Ginny, Joe and the family led a well-traveled life, crisscrossing the United States and even living in Canada and Alaska! Joe taught the kids his outdoor skills, while Ginny was the consummate mother. She was always there to greet her children after school, and made it a point to help them with their homework…and get them back on track when they got into trouble! Her children could always count on their Mom to have something special for them, like fresh cookies, or fun games to play. She kept her kids hopping with activities; from girl scouts, and boy scouts, to after school activities, and summer camp. An excellent cook and seamstress, she passed on those skills to her daughter, Kathleen, who remembers helping her Mom bake cookies when she was just a tiny, little girl, and sewing skirts with her, not long after that. Years later, after enjoying extravagant family meals that Kathleen prepared at her own home, Ginny always told her, "I taught you well!" And it was no secret…she did.

After Joe retired from the Air Force in 1971, the family traveled to Denver and settled into their new home in Aurora. Ginny went to work for the Federal Government, and was known around the office for the never-empty candy dish she kept on her desk, prompting everyone within the large office building to visit. She also joined the American Women's Business Association, receiving honors as Woman of the Year, and remaining close friends with the organization's members for the rest of her life. One member noted, "We have lost a very special friend. She was just so much fun!" In her neighborhood, she was known for the bunko parties she helped to organize, and the special punch she served, spiked with Champagne…making all the party-goers tipsy! Ginny finally retired from work when she was 75, spending time with her family, and traveling with Joe, who was now an artist, showing his work at art shows in shopping malls around the country.

Ginny will always be remembered as the vivacious, outgoing, and spunky woman that she was throughout her life.. Even advanced stages of Alzheimer's Disease couldn't take away the feisty personality that remained with her until the very end.

Ginny, you will always be loved and missed greatly by your husband, your children, your extended family, and all your friends. May we always celebrate her life, by living ours full and well, as she lived her's.