Dorothy "Dot" Kennedy

Dorothy Ann McConville Kennedy came into this world to Esther and Bernard McConville on October 19, 1950, their first child. Dottie would reminisce of her fond memories of cooking and sewing with her grandma. Often, she would say that with her school clothing allowance she would make her clothes instead of buying. Attending Villa Theresa in her elementary years she enjoyed the close relationship she had with the nuns including being a part of their evening dinner. Dot was a young woman who did not take part in activities that she felt held her back individual including graduation thus she transferred to Harding High School and received her diploma. Her freshman year until the middle of her senior year she attended Oklahoma State University majoring in secondary child education. The Kennedy family and the McConville family were interwoven by friendship from the children/siblings thus Dot and Mike became friends. Growing in friendship they started dating learning that they could depend on each other for safety and solace. This friendship led to marriage on August 3, 1973 for Dorothy and Michael. Coming from a medical background Dot, not taking to blood, had a way with numbers and problem solving which lead her to first work at St. Anthony's Hospital then OU Health Science Center as an expert coder where she would later retire from. Dot loved her work, she would be able to help families financially carry on medical treatment due to her finding loop holes in the system. Dottie always wanted to help others in their times of trouble. Dot gave birth to three children, Jennifer (12/1975), Michael (03/1980) and Deborah (01/1985). Having children to raise, grow and educate became her focus. Since she saw the world as growing different from when she was a child. Dorothy worked on instilling in her children love, acceptance, nurturing and survival. Leading to sewing lessons, listening to Beatles and other bands from the "hippie generation", and learning to cook. Dot wanted to carry on the lessons she learned from her grandma to us as well as lessons from a generation we did not understand. As a child I would learn from my mom the importance of love. Love that did not make sense, love that passed cultural boundaries, love that would push family ties, and love that would overcome all. Dorothy would pass from this earth holding her husband's hand at her bedside on January 21, 2018.