Sancta Sophia News Blog

SISTER MARNIE KENNEDY RSCJ

2 December 1927 – 16 March 2011

MARNIE’S long and difficult journey finally came to a close in the early hours of Wednesday, when she died
peacefully at the Sacred Heart Hospice in Darlinghurst.

Dearly loved Religious of the Society of the Sacred
Heart, professed in Rome on February 11, 1956.

Treasured daughter of Peg and Jack Kennedy of
Marrickville and beloved sister and sister-in-law of
John and Kath, Ted and Celie (all deceased), much
loved aunt to Margie and John, John and Virginia, Mark and Carolyn, Peter and Megan and wonderful
great-aunt to their children: Liz, Sarah, Jonathan, Martha (in heaven), Greta, Declan, Marcus, Nicholas, Olivia,
Sian, Seamus and Brendan. Much loved cousin of Jenny Laffan and Lis Gerrard and their families, her Casey
family cousins in Ireland and Germany and all the cousins of the O’Brien family diaspora. Greatly loved by
her very many dear friends.

MARNIE’S life’s work spanned roles of educator,
counsellor, activist, spiritual leader and defender of the rights of the dispossessed and marginalised. Following
her devoted work as teacher and administrator in Sacred Heart schools, she became involved with the
Jesuit retreat team and regarded her experiences in the “Street Retreats” in inner city areas as among the most
fulfilling and humbling of her life. She worked for many years with her brother, the late Father Ted Kennedy, in
the parish of St. Vincent’s Redfern and was much loved as a good friend of the Aboriginal people.

Gentle Warrior for Social Justice

Sincere gratitude to the many who loved and cared for
Marnie during her illness and for the wonderful medical care from Dr. John Kennedy, Dr. Chris Hughes, Dr.
Steven Cooper, Dr. Cory Lau and the Canterbury Palliative Care Team and Dr. Philip Redelman and staff
of Ward 4 North at the Hospice.

On Monday (March 21, 2011) a Farewell Ceremony will
be held at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Redfern Street, Redfern at 8.30 a.m., followed by Concelebrated Mass
of Christian Burial, to be offered at St. Brigid’s Church, Marrickville Road, Marrickville, commencing at 11 a.m.
Following the Mass, light refreshments will be served and the funeral will leave the church at 1.30 p.m. for her
burial at the Community Cemetery, Rose Bay.

Read more at http://www.catholica.com.au/forum/index.php?id=70366 and http://www.onlinetributes.com.au/Marnie_Kennedy/

*image from http://www.vincentians.org.au/main/news.htm