Anna Elizabeth Kennedy's Obituary
Anna Elizabeth (Furches) Kennedy passed away with family by her side on April 19, 2024 in Longmont, Colorado. Services will be held on May 9, 2024 at Greenwood Mortuary and Memorial Park in San Diego.
Born in Detroit on April 13, 1943 to Thelma and Ortis Furches, Ann and her family moved to Imperial Beach at age 8, an experience of culture shock she reflected upon often. Quickly I.B. became her home and local friendships endured throughout her life. Ann was active in school from flag corps, student government to the school newspaper and running with the “fast crowd,” — a theme that would take center stage in her life in decades to come.
After high school she loved working for the San Diego Sheriff’s Office and wanted to be a detective but with a height requirement, her 5’2” fell short. In 1964 she married a US Navy helicopter mechanic from Portland, Oregon. They moved to his home town and had two children. Oregon’s wet and dreary weather grew on her — and she sang its praises often. She kept a busy social calendar while helping run the family bike shop and also learning knitting, tole painting, gardening, canning in her “spare” time. She also cultivated another batch of life-long friendships that she maintained with cards, letters and many phone calls.
In 1976 she returned to Imperial Beach as a single mom, relishing the role of motherhood, becoming a steadfast protector and supporter of not just her children, but many others through work on school committees and Scouting. It was here she met Jim Kennedy, who would become her life partner and eventual husband. Her family grew to include his children.
Ann and Jim enjoyed expanding into each others’ social circles — but that penchant for drinking caught up to her. And she did the most humbling and courageous thing - admitted that her life had become unmanageable and asked for help. She started a new vibrant chapter of life with regular attendance of AA meetings as the foundation to her ensuing 30-plus years of sobriety. Through AA she forged connections with all manner of people, became a sponsor to a handful and friend to far more. She was encouraging and honest as they faced their obstacles together.
Retirement brought about her life-long dream of traveling. She and Jim visited long-lost relatives and rekindled relationships across the country. They bought a second home in Colorado, to spend extended time with their kids and grandkids, while continuing their travels. Ann had a great impact on her grandkids, enjoying their triumphs and helping them through their challenges. With age and the loss of Jim in 2014, travel became difficult, but she had the endless gift of a listening ear, and her life’s work was maintaining connections with her dear friends and family with letters, I-thought-of-you newspaper clippings, and so many phone calls - truly her Superpower.
Throughout every stage of her life, Ann extended the hand of friendship to became a touchstone and confidant. She spent countless hours with the phone cradled against her cheek, the long cord stretching across the house, listening and sharing her wit and wisdom. She had a playful sense of humor and a giving heart. Her curiosity was infectious, she would often be reading a newspaper, magazine or book, highlighting and clipping passages to share with the people she loved. She was always striving to know more and to be her best self, and to lift up others to do the same.
Ann will be welcomed into eternal life by her parents, siblings and husband who preceded her in death. She will be sorely missed by her 4 children, 7 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren and all those close to her.
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