Jessie Elmira (Swartz) Kennedy, 90, of Port Royal passed away at home on Sunday, March 12, 2023.
She was born Feb. 9, 1933 in Spruce Hill.
She shared 63 years of marriage with her loving husband, Daniel H. Kennedy, who preceded her in death on June 17, 2017. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Stanley and Mary Kathryn (Foltz) Swartz, her step-mother, M. Rae Swartz, a brother, Jack S. Swartz in 1973, one niece, Diane (Swartz) Bardsley in 2017, and two nephews, Herb Kennedy in 1975 and Daniel Groce in 2022.
She is survived by a daughter, Desiree Mummah and husband, Ronald, of Port Royal, a son, Scott Kennedy and wife, Linda, of Lewistown, grandchildren, Stacey Kelley and husband, Olivo, Danielle Zimmerman and husband, Shane, Ronda Ehrenzeller and husband, Martin, and Eric Kennedy and wife, Esther, ten great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren, one sister Mary Jane Morris of Harrisburg and her beloved cat, Charlie.
Jessie graduated in 1951 from Tuscarora Valley High School. In 1955 she graduated from Lewistown Hospital School of Nursing. She retired from Lewistown Hospital in 1996.
She was the Juniata High School band nurse in the early 1970’s and for many years, she worked in the first aid station at the Juniata County Fair.
She was a member of Matamoras United Methodist Church, Mifflin Chapter #260 Order of the Eastern Star, and Lewistown Hospital Nursing School Alumni Assoc.
She was an avid gardener while her health permitted and she loved to work in her yard and read her Bible.
Her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 15 at Matamoras United Methodist Church, 5718 Mountain Road, Port Royal, with Pastor Crystal Baumgardner officiating. Interment will be in Old Church Hill Cemetery, Port Royal.
There will be a viewing from 10 a.m. until the time of the services Wednesday at the church.
Donations in Jessie’s memory may be made to the Matamoras United Methodist Church, PO Box 396, Port Royal, PA 17082.
Guss Funeral Home, Inc., Mifflintown, is assisting the family with the services. Condolences may be left at www.gussfh.com.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 5/17/14 - Image Year: 2014
Photo of Dan and Jessie (Swartz) Kennedy that appeared in a 2005-06 Photo Directory of Port Royal United Methodist Church members. (The photos were taken by Olan Mills Studios.).
Contributed by ray on 5/3/16 - Image Year: 1951
Photo of Jessie from the 1951 Tuscarora Valley High School Yearbook.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 5/3/16 - Image Year: 1951
TVHS 1951 SENIOR CLASS: (Front Row)(l-r) Jane Kirkwood, Romaine Bardell, Anna Brackbill, Park Gerhart (teacher), Cora Naylor, Roma Deen, Jessie Swartz; (Middle Row)(l-r) Bill Seacrist, Joyce Milliken, Richard Eaton, Betty Bookwalter, Eugene Longacre; (Top Row)(l-r) David Weishaupt, Paul Armstrong, John Leister, Arthur Aumiller, Ralph Ditmer, Ralph Kepner
Contributed by rkohler3 on 5/13/17 - Image Year: 1948
TVHS CLASS OF 1951 IN FRESHMAN YEAR (48): (Front Row) (l-r): Bill Seacrist, Art Aumiller, Lane Swartz; (2nd Row): June Welshonse, Mildred Walters, Dolores Benner, Roma Deen, Cora Naylor, Romaine Bardell, Anna Brackbill; (3rd Row) Jeanne Kennedy, Patsy Lauver, Joyce Milliken, Peggy Seiber, Betty Bookwalter, Jane Kirkwood, Jessie Swartz; (Back Row): David Wisehaupt, John Leister, Ralph Kepner, Ralph Ditmer, Eugene Longacre, Paul Armstrong, Mr. Parsons (Teacher), Richard Eaton
Contributed by rkohler3 on 4/26/16 - Image Year: 2010
1951 TVHS CLASS REUNION: Held July 1, 2010 at Whitesel Family House Restaurant: (seated) Paul Armstrong; (Standing l-r) Arthur Aumiller, Jane Kirkwood Kapsa, Jessie Swartz Kennedy, Romaine Bardell Varnes, Anna Brackbill Fry and Betty Bookwalter Dolin.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 12/27/10 - Image Year: 1962
JESSIE (SWARTZ) KENNEDY dressed for the 1962 Port Royal Susqui-centennial celebration. (Photo submitted by Desi (Kennedy) Mummah)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 12/27/10 - Image Year: 1962
DANIEL H. and JESSIE (SWARTZ) KENNEDY dressed for the 1962 Port Royal Sesqui-centennial celebration. (Photo submitted by Desi (Kennedy) Mummah)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 1/6/11 - Image Year: 2008
FOUR GENERATIONS OF THE DANIEL KENNEDY FAMILY: (seated) Jessie (Swartz) Kennedy and Daniel Kennedy. (standing l-r) granddaughter Rhonda (Mummah) Ehrenzeller holding her daughter Brooklyn and their daughter Desi (Kennedy) Mummah holding her grandson Brayden Ehrenzeller.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 6/13/14 - Image Year: 2014
60th ANNIVERSARY: Daniel and Jessie Kennedy celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary, May 18, 2014. (Photo from the Times (Port Royal))
Contributed by muke on 11/16/11
Jessie Kennedy is my mother and my best friend! She is a Registered Nurse and we think she is the best RN ever! She pierced my ears and all of my girlfriends ears back in the 1960's. She worked for the local Doctor James Johnson DO. She is retired now but still gets calls from former patients! She has planned many Tuscarora Valley High School get togethers for her classmates. She is the best wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother anybody could have. We love you MOM!! Desi & Scott
