Amy M.

Kennedy

As a new day dawned, Amy Marie Kennedy's spirit slipped gracefully away at her home in Paulding, Ohio, embraced by her husband and daughter early Sunday morning, September 3rd, 2023. She had survived her previous cancer diagnosis in 2018 but the recurrence earlier this year left her with little hope. However, she did spend these past few months enjoying the time with her family to the fullest.

Amy was born to Leo and Esther Huebner on August 2nd, 1964. She married John Kennedy, her highschool sweetheart, at the age of 19. Together, John and Amy were the entrepreneurs of a J&A Market in Paulding, Ohio, where they sold produce, meats, cheeses, flowers, and all manner of seasonal sundries. Amy has worked in the Paulding Exempted Village School system for nearly two decades, from being an aid for multi-handicapped students, to her favorite position as a lunch lady in the cafeteria. She always knew which students didn't have enough money in their lunch account and those who didn't have enough food at home and she always made sure that no student ever went hungry, even if that meant feeding them from her own kitchen. Giving and nurturing has always been the heart of who she was.

The Kennedy's home was a safe haven filled with love and hospitality for all who entered. John and Amy hosted several exchange students throughout the years, continually opening their home and community to new cultural experiences. Those experiences flourished into extended families all over the world to include Sandra Hemme (Germany), Lenka Vesela (Slovakia), Francesco Sensi (Italy), Veronika Klesnilova (Czech Republic), Daniele Guarnaschelli (Italy), and Norberto Emmanuel (Mexico). They also informally adopted twins, Daniel and David Parrett, who they see as beloved sons. John and Amy had one biological daughter, Sierra Kennedy, who loved her mother beyond measure and will continue to carry on her legacy of generosity and servitude.

Amy was preceded in death by her parents and survived by her three siblings, Mike Huebner, Lori Vogel, and Beverly Hanenkratt, as well as her husband and daughter. Funeral service will be held at 11am on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at Den Herder Funeral Home, burial to follow in St. Paul Cemetery, Paulding Township. Visitation will be from 3pm until 7pm on Friday, September 8, 2023 at Den Herder Funeral Home. There will also be visitation from 10am until time of services on Saturday. Please join the family as they honor the incredible woman that Amy was. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CHP Hospice Services who so graciously attended Amy in her final weeks along with her family.