Therese Mary Kennedy, 36, of Emmitsburg, MD passed away peacefully on Friday, December 22, 2017 at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born June 6, 1981 in Alexandria, VA. She is survived by her mother, Theresa Ward and step-father, Tom Ward, of Emmitsburg, and her father, Thomas Kennedy of Augusta, WV and his lifetime companion Barbara Leibler of Berkeley Springs, WV.
Therese was a graduate of Catoctin High School, class of 2000. She worked providing clerical support for the CIA for 8 years, and helped as her mother’s personal assistant in her cleaning business. She was a Secular Franciscan and a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Hancock, MD. She had a passion for the special needs community and was actively involved with L’Arche of Frederick County, whose goal is to establish a home for disabled and abled adults. Therese also participated in Camp Glow and Challenger Baseball. She was an active member of the church and enjoyed arranging flowers for the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes with her mother Theresa and her aunt Joan. She enjoyed taking long walks throughout Emmitsburg.
Surviving in addition to her parents are her brothers, Phillip Kennedy (and his wife Emily and their children, William and Nathaniel Kennedy of Bristow, VA) and John Kennedy (and his fiancé Annie Barbera of Richmond, VA); maternal grandmother, Patricia Turnbull of Port Crane, NY; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A Mass of the Resurrection to celebrate Therese’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at St. Anthony Shrine Parish, 16150 St. Anthony Rd., Emmitsburg, MD, with the Rev. John Lombardi as celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Anthony Cemetery. The family will receive friends 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, December 26th at MYERS-DURBORAW FUNERAL HOME, 210 W. Main St., Emmitsburg, MD.
It was Therese’s wish that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Friends of L’Arche Frederick, P.O. Box 1636, Frederick, MD, 21702.