“Yahweh, I know you are near, standing always at my side. You guard me from the foe, and you lead me in ways everlasting.” Song by the St. Louis Jesuits

Sister Patricia Kennedy was someone who deeply valued community, even when her ministry took her far from others. She found comfort in her faith, knowing that God was always by her side.

Patricia Agnes was born in Saginaw, Michigan, March 18, 1939, to Alfred James and Alma Fortier Kennedy. She had five sisters and two brothers. After kindergarten in Emerson Public School, she attended St. Mary Cathedral School for twelve years. She was a member of the Sodality and sang in the choir and Glee Club. In her senior year, she sang in the adult mixed choir. Alongside her school activities, she worked in her family’s restaurant and enjoyed trips to northern Michigan with her loved ones.

Dominican teachers at St. Mary’s were a major influence on Patricia. In September 1957, she entered the Dominican Sisters at Marywood and at reception took the name Sister Leah Marie until after Vatican II when she returned to her baptismal name. In 1959 she was professed and began a ministry in food service. Sister Pat earned both an associate degree and B.A. from Aquinas College with a cognate in gerontology. She earned certificates in food management from Fontbonne College, a dietary certificate from the Catholic Hospital Association in dietary competence and was a member of the Hospital, Institution and Educational Food Service Society.

Sister Patricia worked many years in food service in both large and small settings, including parish convents, Marywood infirmary, and St. Catherine’s Kentucky motherhouse. Here she was deeply appreciated for her hospitality and warmth. Kentucky also provided her an opportunity to visit significant historical sites, an option which she relished. She also served at the Sacramentine Monastery in Conway, Michigan. There she found her year in the “cloister” interesting, but lonely. While serving at Fountain View Retirement Village, Sr. Pat earned the award of staff member of the month for the loving care she provided. The commendation read: “She is always ready to go that extra mile for staff and residents.”

In 1982 Sr. Pat served the role of housemother to children in Holy Child Boarding School, Harbor Springs. She loved caring for the children and was sad that the school closed the next year. Sister Pat earned the status of CENA in nursing, a skill which she put to beneficial use after her years in food service. Her caretaking continued with senior citizens in Caro at the Oak Crest Health Care Center and Home Care Services. She was a nursing aide at both Aquinata Hall and the Marywood Health Center as well as being a significant help to a number of Sisters in caring for their family members.

At Aquinas College, she served as an information desk specialist and admissions secretary, earning commendation for her organizational skills, dependability, reliability and warm demeanor. Prior to retirement for health reasons, Sister Pat assisted in the WORD/ESL program and Help Pregnancy Center where she enjoyed making bonnets, booties, blankets and sweaters for the newborns. She assisted in transportation needs and volunteered as a visitor at Aquinata Hall. Wherever she served, she was one of those people who went out of her way to be kind and helpful.

Sr. Pat enjoyed knitting, crocheting, pottery, photography, sewing, cooking, baking (especially her famous casserole dill bread). Her life was a testament to her commitment to service and community. She was a prayerful person with deep faith in a loving God standing always at her side and now leading her into life everlasting.