Josephine Ruth Kennedy

Sun Prairie/Houston-Josephine R. Kennedy, age 87, passed away on Thursday, the first of April in Houston, Texas.

Josephine was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Charles H. Kennedy. She is survived by her daughter Kathleen Aten and son-in-law William, grandchildren Sean and Jenna, her daughter Patricia Kennedy, her sister Genevieve Adamic, her sister Gladys Ritchie and her husband Bud, her brother Stan Fejta and his wife Helen, her brother Robert Fejta, and nephew, Patrick Kennedy.

Josephine was born the third of eight children in Red Oak, Iowa on February 20, 1923. She attended Mercy School of Nursing in Janesville, Wisconsin. After serving as an army nurse in Burma during WWII, she earned a degree in hygiene at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. While working as a night supervisor at Methodist Hospital, she married Charles Kennedy, a WWII veteran and corporate lawyer. She raised her daughters then returned to work in public health and psychiatric care. She enjoyed relaxing at their summer lakeside cabin, travel, crafts, gardening, bridge, and exercise: walking, swimming, biking. In 2000 she moved to Kingwood, Texas to be near her daughters and grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. at Cress Funeral Home, Sun Prairie with Msgr. Duane R. Moellenberndt presiding followed by internment at Sun Prairie Memory Gardens. Visitation will be held on Thusday at the funeral home from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of remembrances, those who wish can donate to a charity of their choice.