Geraldine Kennedy, active in church

Geraldine S. Kennedy of Clemson, S.C., a former Ridgefielder who was active in the First Congregational Church, died on Saturday, Feb. 16, in Anderson, S.C. She was 84 years old and the widow of the Rev. William T. Kennedy, a Presbyterian minister and former career Navy chaplain.
A native of St. Louis, Mo., Mrs. Kennedy was born on Sept. 14, 1917. She grew up in Tulsa, Okla., and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern and a master’s degree in speech from Columbia.
Mrs. Kennedy had been an elementary reading teacher, mainly in Westchester County, N.Y.
She and her husband lived on Ridgecrest Drive from 1987 to 1991 when they moved to Newtown. Mr. Kennedy died a short time later. Mrs. Kennedy returned to Ridgefield in 1997, living on North Salem Road with her daughter, Lynda Wiggins. After her daughter’s death in 2000, she moved to Seneca, S.C., to be closer to other family members.
Mrs. Kennedy was active in the First Congregational Church and in its Elizabeth Circle. “She loved going to the Saturday night contemporary service,” said her granddaughter, Christine Wiggins of Clemson. “She loved the First Congregational Church and she loved Ridgefield.”
An avid reader, she also enjoyed the Ridgefield Library — “she spent a lot of time there,” Ms. Wiggins said.
Besides Ms. Wiggins, her survivors include her son, Thomas Kennedy of Mora, Minn.; and four grandchildren, Ms. Wiggins of Clemson, Karri Sieglein of Houston, Texas, Shawn Kennedy of Dallas, Texas, and John Samuel Wiggins of New York City.
A memorial service will take place at the First Congregational Church in May.
Contributions in her memory may be sent to the American Stroke Foundation 10540 Marty, Suite #200, Overland Park, KS 66212.