CLEANING UP – Jordan Tanguay, Sitka National Historical Park biologist, right, uses a bilge pump to remove oily water from a stream flowing into Indian River this morning, as Jared Hazel, park maintenance worker, carries out buckets. Tanguay discovered the fuel leak this morning as she walked through the park. She spent the morning helping do mitigation work. The leaked fuel was traced to a 500-gallon tank on private land.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson) 

City Land Use Plan On Hold Until 2026
20 Dec 2024 15:47

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    Reacting to the Assembly’s vote Tuesday to postpone [ ... ]

Officials Respond to Oil Leak Into Indian River
20 Dec 2024 15:45

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    Heating oil leaked from a storage tank on Metlakatla S [ ... ]

Choir to Join in for Holiday Brass Concert
20 Dec 2024 15:41

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The Holiday Brass Concert, a combination of top talen [ ... ]

December 20, 2024, Police Blotter
20 Dec 2024 15:36

Police Blotter
Sitka Police received the following calls as of midnight last night.
December 19
At 4:24 [ ... ]

Dunleavy’s Report For Trump Shows Some AI
20 Dec 2024 15:33

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s transition plan for Donald [ ... ]

December 20, 2024, Community Happenings
20 Dec 2024 15:11

Climate Connection: U.S. Climate Migration
The year2024 promises to be the hottest in recorded histor [ ... ]

Progress Reported On Animal Shelter
19 Dec 2024 15:05

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    City Attorney Rachel Jones told the Assembly Tuesday  [ ... ]

Historical Society Sponsors Trains, Parade
19 Dec 2024 15:03

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    A Christmas parade, a gingerbread house contest, and a [ ... ]

December 19, 2024, Police Blotter
19 Dec 2024 14:59

Police Blotter
Sitka Police received the following calls as of midnight last night.
December 18
At 1:35 [ ... ]

December 19, 2024, Community Happenings
19 Dec 2024 14:57

Memorial Service
Saturday For
Wayne Hagerman
A memorial service for Dr. Wayne T. Hagerman will be held  [ ... ]

Fishing Sector Sees Issues with Haulout
18 Dec 2024 15:09

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    Meetings of the Gary Paxton Industrial Park board of [ ... ]

Assembly Postpones Work on Land Policy
18 Dec 2024 14:43

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    After more than two hours of discussion and public co [ ... ]

All Invited to Sing Along At Cheery Event Tonight
18 Dec 2024 13:46

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    Sitka Music Festival will give a boost to holiday che [ ... ]

Wolves Take Fourth at Wrestling Regions
18 Dec 2024 13:45

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    Though Sitka High fielded a small wrestling team this [ ... ]

Dunleavy Urges Trump: Lift Biden Land Rules
18 Dec 2024 13:42

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
    Gov. Mike Dunleavy is asking President-elect Donald Trump to imme [ ... ]

December 18, 2024, Police Blotter
18 Dec 2024 12:24

Police Blotter
Sitka Police received the following calls as of midnight last night.
December 17
At 11:1 [ ... ]

December 18, 2024, Community Happenings
18 Dec 2024 12:22

Memorial Service
Saturday For
Wayne Hagerman
A memorial service for Dr. Wayne T. Hagerman will be held  [ ... ]

Cruise Petition OK'd for Signature Drive
17 Dec 2024 15:36

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The city clerk’s office on Monday certified an appl [ ... ]

Sitka, Mt. Edgecumbe Score at DDF Tourney
17 Dec 2024 14:17

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Sitka and Mt. Edgecumbe high school drama, debate and forens [ ... ]

Mt. Edgecumbe Wins Regional Wrestling Titles
17 Dec 2024 14:14

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    Facing off against wrestlers from across Southeast, M [ ... ]

COMMENTARY: Southeast’s Ecosystem Sending Out a Me...
17 Dec 2024 14:10

By BETH SHORT-RHOADS
Alaska Beacon
    Have you ever stepped into an old-growth forest alive with a [ ... ]

December 17, 2024, Police Blotter
17 Dec 2024 14:08

Police Blotter
Sitka Police received the following calls as of midnight last night.
December 16
A man r [ ... ]

December 17, 2024, Community Happenings
17 Dec 2024 14:07

Christmas Bird
Count Meet Set
Planning for the annual Audobon Christmas Bird Count will be 6 p.m. Wedn [ ... ]

Blatchley Choir, Bands Ready for Big Show
16 Dec 2024 15:06

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The Blatchley Middle School concert on Tuesday will h [ ... ]

Other Articles

Daily Sitka Sentinel

Geraldine Kennedy, 96, Dies at Her Sitka Home

Geraldine (Geri) Isabelle Kennedy

Geraldine (Geri) Isabelle Kennedy, 96, died at her Sitka home of age-related causes on May 15, 2020.

She was born at home, in Wrangell, on December 24, 1923, to Nettie (Carrasco) and Paul Young Jones. Vital Statistics says Dec. 21, but her family all swear by Dec. 24.  She was the fifth of seven kids – her siblings were Harold, Pauline, Irene, Ernestine (Babe), Frank and Maxine.

Geri’s primary school years were spent in various boarding schools in Southeast Alaska, always with a sibling or two.  She graduated in Ketchikan in 1941, then attended one year of school at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.

After World War II, she married William (Bill) Kennedy, also of Ketchikan, on June 15, 1946, at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church on Woodland Avenue.

Geri worked retail jobs, child care for various friends and relatives, and at Fidalgo Cannery for many summers through the 1970s. 

She was not a member of any local clubs or organizations, but she did re-discover her Native culture in the early 1980s. She learned every craft that offered a class; NW Coast basketry, carving, design (formline), engraving, weaving, and regalia-making. Her basketry skills were very appreciated by many, for many years. Liked and loved by just about anyone she met throughout her life, she always had a smile to share, and was good with a surprise occasional one-liner when dealing with life’s challenges

Geri was preceded in death by all of her immediate family, parents and siblings, her husband William (in 1995), and her son Billy (in 1962).

She is survived by her three daughters and one son; Joanna Hendricks (William Kendricks) of Ketchikan, Arlene Kennedy of Sitka, Susan LaFray David LaFray) of Boise, Idaho, and Rob Kennedy (Ann Ludeman Kennedy) of Port Orchard, Washington.

Numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews, and many others who knew her affectionately as “Aunty Geri” also survive.

 

No funeral or memorial services are scheduled at this time. Memorial plans for Ketchikan and Seattle will be announced when made.

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20 YEARS AGO

December 2004

Photo caption: David Voluck reads a blessing while lighting a menorah during a community gathering observing the eight-day Chanukah festival. Honored speakers included Woody Widmark, STA  president, and Assembly member Al Duncan.

50 YEARS AGO

December 1974

From On the Go: More college students home for the holidays – Bill and Isabella Brady have a houseful. Ralph is here from the Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute, along with his fiancee Grace Gillian; Louise is here from the University of New Mexico, and Jennifer, who’s working with IEA in Anchorage is home with her fiance Lance Ware.

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