Olivia Kennedy

OLIVIA KENNEDY

Cedar Rapids

Olivia Kennedy (born Olive May Reading) of Cedar Rapids, passed away Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, at West Ridge Care Center. She was 98. Cedar Memorial is helping the family with arrangements. A private family service will be held at a later date.

Olivia was born Dec. 13, 1923, in Winchester, England, to Alfred and Mabel Wells Reading. Olive met Calvin Kennedy at a dance while he was stationed near Winchester. He missed his bus back to base so that he could walk her home. After dating for several months, he was discharged and sent back to the United States. A year passed, and Olive was finally able to book passage to America. She arrived on the America on Jan. 13, 1947, Calvin introduced her to his family as Olivia, so her name was changed from Olive to Olivia. Calvin and Olivia walked to Olivet Presbyterian Church on Jan. 18, 1947, to get married, and his mother made cake and ice cream to celebrate.

In Cedar Rapids, Olivia worked at Collins Radio and was a homemaker. Throughout much of their lives, Cal and Olivia were involved in El Kahir Shrine, The Order of Masons, Eastern Star and Grotto. Olivia was the Mother Advisor for The Rainbow Girls for a number of years in the early 1980s. Olivia was a member of Grace Episcopal Church.

Olivia was a prolific knitter. She knitted scarves, sweaters, crafts, slippers, mittens and hats. Her projects got simpler as she got older, but her family can remember her sitting in her chair, watching television, and her hands were flying. Additionally, whether it be sweaters or hats, slippers or bedspreads, people who saw her work were amazed that she was able to create such art with yarn and needles. She and Cal also created quilts together. Olivia and Cal also enjoyed traveling. They traveled to England, Aruba and Washington, D.C., for the opening of the World War Two memorial.

Olivia was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; an infant son, David; her sisters, Doreen Wall and June Stock; and her brother, Reginald Reading.

Olivia is survived by two children, Susan Kennedy of Bulverde, Texas, and Michael (Anne) Kennedy of Cedar Rapids; six grandchildren, Christopher (Tracey) Stoneking of Sioux City, Heather (Marty) McDonald of Waterloo, Tamara (Rob) Schoon of San Antonio, Debbie (Brian) White of Cedar Rapids, Megan (Josh) Pedelty of China Spring, Texas, and Dan (Becca) Kennedy of Los Angeles; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; many nieces and nephews both here and abroad; and two special feline friends, Tich and Bo.

Memorials may be sent to the Kennedy Family, 2513 K Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405. Memorial contributions will be used for a fitting tribute to Olivia's life.

Please share a memory at www.cedarmemorial.com/obituary.