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08/31/2021 - Sacramento, CA, USA

Mary Frances Kennedy, 81, passed away peacefully August 31, 2021 at home in Sacramento, CA.

She is survived by her loving husband, Jack Kennedy, her children Thomas and Ann Marie Kennedy, her son-in-law Jason Auriemma and her grandchildren, Isabella Sandoval Kennedy, Maya and Marcus Auriemma.

Mary Frances was the daughter of Charlene and Juan Saez who immigrated from a small Basque village in northern Spain. After her father died young, her mother raised her, her sisters, and brother in Castleford, Idaho. Fran had many memories growing up in the small farming town. She enjoyed recounting the days of high school foxtrot dances, the summer breaks spent working on farms and waitressing at the Castleford Café that her mother owned. Until late in life, she loved returning to southern Idaho to visit with old friends, her nieces and nephew.

In the summer of 1962, after graduating from the University of Idaho, Fran pursued her dream of living in California. Dressed in an outfit she had beautifully sewn herself, she headed out from Twin Falls, Idaho on a greyhound bus to Sacramento where she had an interview for a teaching position the next day. She immediately began as an elementary school teacher in the San Juan School District where she worked for many years and made many longtime friends. That first year while living in downtown Sacramento, she met Jack who would be her companion for 58 years. They were inspired by the progressive movements of the 1960's and JFK's words , "Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country," so they joined the Peace Corps and served in a small village in India 1966-68. They continued throughout their lives as active Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and dedicated their careers to public service.

During her years raising children, Fran was a loving parent and involved in the Sacramento community. She enjoyed seeing her kids and grandkids grow up to do things she never had the chance to do like learning to swim, play soccer, go camping and play music. She loved taking her kids to Lake Tahoe and Camp Sacramento with the family's cousins. She was a longtime volunteer for Planned Parenthood and advocated for women's reproductive rights, UNICEF, Loaves and Fishes Homeless Services, the Embarcadero Lions Club, and the Unitarian Universalist Church. Later in life she and Jack would return to live abroad and work on education and health projects in Lesotho and Ethiopia. In retirement, they travelled to learn more about the world in Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Fran loved being with people. She made so many good friends because of her welcoming manner, generous heart, and good sense of humor. She was deeply grateful for her loving husband with whom she enjoyed years of adventure and cherished companionship. Cards and flowers can be sent to their home. You are also welcome to make a donation in her name to an organization of your choice. Please join her family in remembering Fran at a Celebration of Life service that will be held on Friday, October 15, 2021 at 11am at the Sacramento Unitarian Universalist Church 2425 Sierra Blvd, Sacramento, CA.

(published by The Sacramento Bee, Legacy.com on Sep. 12, 2021)