M. Gabriel Kennedy OBITUARY

Sister M. Gabriel Kennedy, SNJM Residence of Saratoga, California Sister Gabriel Kennedy (Jessie Catherine Kennedy) entered into the fullness of life on March 8, 2015. Sister Gabriel celebrated her 100th birthday in grand style in November, 2014. She made her first profession as a Sister of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary 77 years ago in Oakland, California.

Sister Gabriel was an elementary school educator par excellence with a special love for kindergarteners. “Kindergarten was my idea of heaven,” she wrote. Her educational ministries took her to elementary schools up and down the State of California — Sacred Heart (Oakland), Saint Monica (Santa Monica), Ramona Convent Secondary School (Alhambra), Saint Elizabeth (Altadena), Marylrose (Oakland), Saint Mary (Los Gatos), Saint Anastasia (Los Angeles), Saint Francis de Sales (Oakland), Saint Bede (Hayward), Saint Anne (Ridgecrest) and Saint Monica (San Francisco).

Sister Gabriel was a great community woman. Her love of her religious community was deep and her more than 25 years of community service was often understated. Sister Gabriel responded generously whenever help was needed. We remember the playful and mischievous twinkle in her eye, her joy and delight in life, her readiness for an adventure, especially a road trip, her Hawaiian connection and her love of the Dodgers.

Sister Gabriel is survived by her nieces Georgia McCullough, Colita McCullough and Vicki Medeiros as well as other relatives.

Sister Gabriel’s Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Sunday, March 22 at 2:00 pm at Marie Rose Center, 65 W. Rincon Avenue, Campbell, California. Her burial will be at 10:15 am on Monday, March 23 at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Hayward, California.

Gifts in Sister’s memory may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Names, P.O. Box 907, Los Gatos, CA 95031 or on-line at www.snjmca.org.