Mary Bernadine Kennelly, age 98, of Knoxville, Illinois died at 7:00 P.M. on Friday, December 4, 2020 at her daughter’s home in Knoxville, Illinois.
Mary was born on October 21, 1922 in Deerfield Township, south of Ellisville the daughter of Newton and Ferne (Schrodt) Cooper. She graduated from Fairview High School in 1939. She then attended Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois where she received her Bachelor Degree in Education. After graduating she taught for 2 years in Alpha, Illinois. She moved to Detroit, Michigan I the summer of 1940 where she was had a job as a Rosie the Riveter making parts for planes during World War II. She married Teddy A. Kennelly on May 26, 1945 at the Locust Lane Church in Canton, Illinois. He preceded her in death on January 29, 2014.
After her marriage, she and her husband moved to a farm in rural Maquon, Illinois in 1946. She taught at Spoon River Valley from 1955 to 1970, then at the Knoxville Junior High from 1970 to 1978 when she retired. She loved working on genealogy with her husband. Her love for reading lasted a lifetime. She loved nature, gardening, and camped with her family until her death. Her relationship with God and her family and friends were the most important.
Surviving is a daughter: Mickey (Jeff) Woolsey of Knoxville, Illinois, four sons, Phil (Linda) Kennelly of Yates City, Illinois, Kyle (Kathy) Kennelly of Alpha, Illinois, Brian (Debbie) Kennelly of Danville, Iowa and Kevin (Annette) Kennelly of Knoxville, Illinois; nineteen grandchildren, fifty-three great grandchildren and one great-great grandson. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Brother, Berwyn Cooper, Grandson, Ryan Wiscons, great grandson, Colin Kennelly and a great granddaughter, Jolie Wiscons.
Graveside Services will be held on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens in Galesburg, Illinois, the Rev. Marty Briney will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oaks Community Church, Galesburg Rescue Mission or the Spoon River Valley Educational Foundation. On-line condolences and/or expressions of sympathy may be sent through www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com
