Dortha Mae Kennedy (March 18, 1923 - January 13, 2022)
Loving mother and grandmother, Dortha Mae Kennedy (nee Phelps), passed away on January 13th peacefully at the age of 98. Dortha was surrounded by many loving family members in the days leading up to and when she passed.
Dortha, was born to Andrew and Geneda Phelps (nee Ossig) on March, 18, 1923, in Belgrade, MO. Dortha regularly attended a Baptist church from a very young age, alongside her family members, where she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She grew up in Coldwater, MO, where she met her childhood sweetheart, James E. Kennedy. At the age of 16, Dortha married James on June 8, 1939. The couple moved to the St. Louis area and started their family before finally settling in Cahokia, IL, in 1960. Dortha moved to Fairview Heights to live with her daughters and son-in-law in October 2017.
Dortha dedicated her life to being a supportive wife to James and raising her four children in a caring, loving, and God-honoring home. She was a wonderful cook and baker, who prepared a delicious dinner and dessert for her family every night. As her children grew up and began families of their own, she cherished spending time with and helping to raise her grandchildren. In 1987, her beloved husband passed away after 48 years of marriage.
Dortha was blessed to have close relationships with her four children, their spouses, her six grandchildren, and her ten great-grandchildren. She made it a priority to teach them about Jesus and to pray for them constantly. Dortha read her Bible daily and watched sermons on television regularly.
Dortha was an avid Cardinals fan, who enjoyed watching every game on television. She enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles. Some of her favorite times were taking road trips and family vacations to the mountains, the beach, and to national landmarks and parks. Dortha had a special place in her heart for her many dogs and cats over the years. Her dog, Muffin, kept her company up until her last days.
Dortha joins her parents, Andrew and Geneda Phelps; her sister, Marguerite Murray; her husband, James Kennedy; and her infant son, Joel Douglas Kennedy in Heaven. She is survived by many loving family members, including her children, Sandra (Jack) Niemeyer, Michael (Marilyn) Kennedy, Keith (Kelly) Kennedy, and Angel Kennedy; her grandchildren, Jennifer (Don) Field, Jeffrey (Randi) Niemeyer, Chris (Tang) Kennedy, Sean (Shannon) Kennedy, Angela (Evan) Port, and Jim (Lindsey) Kennedy; her great-grandchildren, Piper Field, Finlee and Foster Niemeyer, Madilyn and Sydney Port, Aubrey and Cameron Kennedy, Nikolas and Markus Kennedy, and Eleanor Kennedy; and her nieces, Joan, Donna, Cheryl, Patti, and Kim.
Dortha leaves behind a legacy of faith for her family. Her greatest desire is that all her loved ones accept Jesus as their Savior and live their lives dedicated to Him. Now that Dortha has passed into the arms of our Lord, we should remind ourselves that while this is the end of Dortha's physical life on Earth, it's the beginning of an eternal and beautiful journey for her.
Dortha's favorite Bible verse was John 5:24, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hearth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."
The family will celebrate her life in a private service on Monday, January 17, at Braun Funeral Home in Columbia, IL.