Mary Ellen Kennedy was the daughter of James & Margaret (Cotterall) Kennedy. She was probably born in Erie Co, PA. Mary had 5 siblings, John, Thomas, Bernard, Anna (Gannon) & Cecilia (Bobbitt).
Between 1842-45 the entire family moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois. They stopped briefly in Chicago before coming to Marshall Co, IL.
During the Civil War her brother John was in a Confederate prisoner of war camp, in the only letter he received while a prisoner, Mary told John of their brother Barney's death in the infamous Andersonville Confederate prisoner of war camp.
Mary Ellen was a strong Catholic. She never married and did tailoring work in Chicago.
When her brother John's wife Mary Elizabeth died from child birth complication Mary Ellen's life changed. She moved back to Marshall County in with John & his family. She took on the job of mothering & caring for John's children. Mary "Mamie" saw that all of John's children were given a good Catholic religious foundation.
She is buried in a plot with two of the children she raised, her niece (Mary) and nephew (Thomas Morgan Kennedy). These 3 are the only Kennedy's known to be buried in a Catholic cemetery.
In 1948 another of Mary's nephew's (James), relayed that his Aunt Mary was a fine sewer, a good cook and greatly admired by the townspeople.
Obit: Henry Republican, 15 Sep 1898
We were very much pained to hear of the death of Miss Mame Kennedy of Varna. After severe suffering she passed away last Thursday, [8 Sept], morning. She will be greatly missed by the family of John Kennedy, as she has been the mother to them. They have our sincere sympathy in this hour of trial and affliction.
Between 1842-45 the entire family moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois. They stopped briefly in Chicago before coming to Marshall Co, IL.
During the Civil War her brother John was in a Confederate prisoner of war camp, in the only letter he received while a prisoner, Mary told John of their brother Barney's death in the infamous Andersonville Confederate prisoner of war camp.
Mary Ellen was a strong Catholic. She never married and did tailoring work in Chicago.
When her brother John's wife Mary Elizabeth died from child birth complication Mary Ellen's life changed. She moved back to Marshall County in with John & his family. She took on the job of mothering & caring for John's children. Mary "Mamie" saw that all of John's children were given a good Catholic religious foundation.
She is buried in a plot with two of the children she raised, her niece (Mary) and nephew (Thomas Morgan Kennedy). These 3 are the only Kennedy's known to be buried in a Catholic cemetery.
In 1948 another of Mary's nephew's (James), relayed that his Aunt Mary was a fine sewer, a good cook and greatly admired by the townspeople.
Obit: Henry Republican, 15 Sep 1898
We were very much pained to hear of the death of Miss Mame Kennedy of Varna. After severe suffering she passed away last Thursday, [8 Sept], morning. She will be greatly missed by the family of John Kennedy, as she has been the mother to them. They have our sincere sympathy in this hour of trial and affliction.
Mary Ellen Kennedy was the daughter of James & Margaret (Cotterall) Kennedy. She was probably born in Erie Co, PA. Mary had 5 siblings, John, Thomas, Bernard, Anna (Gannon) & Cecilia (Bobbitt).
Between 1842-45 the entire family moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois. They stopped briefly in Chicago before coming to Marshall Co, IL.
During the Civil War her brother John was in a Confederate prisoner of war camp, in the only letter he received while a prisoner, Mary told John of their brother Barney's death in the infamous Andersonville Confederate prisoner of war camp.
Mary Ellen was a strong Catholic. She never married and did tailoring work in Chicago.
When her brother John's wife Mary Elizabeth died from child birth complication Mary Ellen's life changed. She moved back to Marshall County in with John & his family. She took on the job of mothering & caring for John's children. Mary "Mamie" saw that all of John's children were given a good Catholic religious foundation.
She is buried in a plot with two of the children she raised, her niece (Mary) and nephew (Thomas Morgan Kennedy). These 3 are the only Kennedy's known to be buried in a Catholic cemetery.
In 1948 another of Mary's nephew's (James), relayed that his Aunt Mary was a fine sewer, a good cook and greatly admired by the townspeople.
Obit: Henry Republican, 15 Sep 1898
We were very much pained to hear of the death of Miss Mame Kennedy of Varna. After severe suffering she passed away last Thursday, [8 Sept], morning. She will be greatly missed by the family of John Kennedy, as she has been the mother to them. They have our sincere sympathy in this hour of trial and affliction.
Between 1842-45 the entire family moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois. They stopped briefly in Chicago before coming to Marshall Co, IL.
During the Civil War her brother John was in a Confederate prisoner of war camp, in the only letter he received while a prisoner, Mary told John of their brother Barney's death in the infamous Andersonville Confederate prisoner of war camp.
Mary Ellen was a strong Catholic. She never married and did tailoring work in Chicago.
When her brother John's wife Mary Elizabeth died from child birth complication Mary Ellen's life changed. She moved back to Marshall County in with John & his family. She took on the job of mothering & caring for John's children. Mary "Mamie" saw that all of John's children were given a good Catholic religious foundation.
She is buried in a plot with two of the children she raised, her niece (Mary) and nephew (Thomas Morgan Kennedy). These 3 are the only Kennedy's known to be buried in a Catholic cemetery.
In 1948 another of Mary's nephew's (James), relayed that his Aunt Mary was a fine sewer, a good cook and greatly admired by the townspeople.
Obit: Henry Republican, 15 Sep 1898
We were very much pained to hear of the death of Miss Mame Kennedy of Varna. After severe suffering she passed away last Thursday, [8 Sept], morning. She will be greatly missed by the family of John Kennedy, as she has been the mother to them. They have our sincere sympathy in this hour of trial and affliction.
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