Sister Marnie Kennedy died this morning around 5:20am. She had been ill for some time, but it was a very peaceful home-going for her.
Sister, friend, wisdom figure, Marnie will be greatly missed.
Realising a dream – Marnie in Central Australia, August 2009
Tribute and funeral details
(from Sydney Morning Herald March 18, 2011)
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.