Obituaries

Name:

" Owen Kennedy "

D.O.B:

09/25/1947

D.O.D

04/07/2023

Country From:

USA

State / Parish:

New York

Place of Death

Arizona

Service Date

04/24/2023

2:00pm

Details:

The funeral service for the late Owen Kennedy will
be held on April 24th 2023 held at David Williams Funeral Service located at 108-20 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica, New York.

Viewing: 3:00pm-4:00pm
Service:4:00pm

Special Info

Owen Ivan Kennedy was born on September 25, 1947 in Santa Cruz, a small town in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica. He was the oldest child born to Urceline Noble Simmons. Owen was an easy going and hard-working man, this was evident very early in life. When his mother ventured to The United States she left him and his younger brother Paul in the care of family. Owen and Paul would reunite with their mother in August of 1958 in the Bronx, NY. This would introduce him to the supportive love and wonders of a blended family. With this fresh start in New York, Owen went on to complete his education in the NYC Public School System. In 1966 he graduated From Samuel L Gompers Vocational & Technical High School in The Bronx. He talked often of his first job with Robert Hall Clothes, it was there his flare for fashion was born. In 1968 during the Vietnam War, he signed up and served 4 years in the United States Navy as a Seamen (E3). When his enlistment was up, he joined the Naval Reserves. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and trained as an Electrical Repairman during his time in the Navy. Owen would marry the Love of his Life Claudette Doreen Thames on February 12, 1971. This union would produce 5 Phenomenal children, Camille, Darrell, Ayisa, Oni and Doreen. As his family grew, he grew in careers from working in retail, taking his electrical training to secure a job with Ragno Boiler and Repairs and eventually the NYC Transit Authority. As a family they moved to Brooklyn NY and laid roots. In August of 1993 the family would be devastated with the passing of his wife Claudette, leaving Owen as a widower with 5 children under the age of 13. Determined to provide a mother figure for his children, Owen’s charismatic energy would introduce strong female role models to help extend the blended Kennedy Family. His family would grow with Greg (Iris); Karen & Annmarie (Simone); David, Andre, Tyrone and Edward (Gwen). The one consistent mother figure that stood tall with him until the end was his Loving Mother Urceline Simmons. In his later years Owen would lean on the support he found in his NA Brothers and Sisters of the 7AM Bronx Group. After years of battling hidden scars, he found solace and clarity in being sober and clean for 12 years. He worked to repair broken relationships with family and friends. His passion for Gardening never died and he would get to share in his childhood passion by working alongside his mother in their garden. The two of them would compete for who had the Best Green Thumb. He was an active Member of the Green Thumb College Avenue Garden for several years, and would share his passion for agriculture with the community. Owen passed away on Good Friday April 7, 2023 while on extended vacation in Glendale Arizona. He went on to reunite with his wife Claudette, loving son Darrell Sr., and his brother Paul. He leaves to celebrate his life-, his Mother Urceline Simmons. His children Camille (John) Doherty, Ayisa Kennedy, Oni Kennedy and Doreen (Chris) Dockery. His grandchildren Darrell Jr, Jarod, Detavian, Steven, Christian, Mureen, Theodore, London, Adonis and his great granddaughter Jordyn. His brothers Michael (Sylvtt) Balcarran and Dion (Miriam) Balcarran. His bonus children are Greg(Annie) Rhem, Karen & Annmarie LeGall, Andre (Jen), Tyrone (Sam) and Edward Walker. His partner for 18 years Gwen Walker. His brothers from the Green Thumb Garden Smitty, Raymond, Eddie and Al. And a host of family and friends who will miss his charismatic energy. Loving Submitted the Family Mark 5:34 - “He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.’”

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