Rosetta Kennedy

Rosetta Kennedy was born on July 10, 1935, to the late Alma (Copeland) Turner and Curly Copeland. Rosetta graduated from Saint Anne High School in 1953 and was a graduate of Marycrest College. She later moved to Chicago, Illinois working at Michael Reese Hospital in the delivery room with the responsibility of bathing the babies. She then moved back to Kankakee leading her to the courtroom where she became the first Black female court reporter in Kankakee. She was so excited and proud to have the opportunity to work in the courtroom and begin her new career. She later married Obie Kennedy Sr. in September of 1958. Of that union she bore three children, Obie Kennedy Jr., Delector, and Cheryl and later became the matriarch of 20 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Curtis, Copeland Sr., John (Goo Goo) Albert Copeland, George (Chunk) Morgan, Francis Morgan, and Willie (Bud) Morgan; her sisters are Yvonne Copeland, Bessie Brown, and Eleanor Riley; her grandchildren, Tyrone Kennedy Sr., Dyaruis Kennedy, Darion Ross, Jayden Matthew Kennedy; her nieces, Felische (Fee Fee) Riley and Annette Rowan and her nephews, Eugene Riley and Clarence Riley. We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Rosetta during her 88 years, like how to keep your faith, being strong, patient, resilient, family and determination. Although her life changed at the young age of 42, she was still happy and surrounded by the love of her family. Sometime younger people don’t even have the patience or time for the elderly, but Rosetta’s grandchildren always loved her with kisses, hugs, laughter, grabbing her face to see if she was awake and let’s not forget her famous dance move. Oh, how she loved to dance especially to her favorite singer Al Green, and she loved to cook. To love Rosetta was to know her. Rosetta was always quick to say, “Oh Really” and “What that mean” which we all laughed about. She will truly be missed, our hearts will be empty, but we are so blessed to have had her in our lives for eighty-eight years. It is these words and memories that we will forever keep in our hearts and memories and bring a smile to our face while looking back at her life.

Tributes

Rosetta Kennedy

July 10, 1935 - September 1, 2023