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Valery Lynn Kennedy, Fairfield Athlete

Valery Lynn Kennedy of Fairfield died Sunday at the age of 56, surrounded by her family at the Connecticut Hospice in Branford. Kennedy was an accomplished athlete, and used her gifts to help children on the sports field.

Born in Greenwich on September 10, 1954, after graduating from Greenwich High School in 1973, Kennedy moved on to Bethany College in West Virginia, earning her degree in 1977. While enrolled there she also spent a semester studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, France.

Throughout her life Kennedy remained a talented athlete. She won the Connecticut state bowling championship at age 12. At Greenwich High, she co-captained the field hockey team, and she continued to play the sport in college. She also won many road races across many different age groups. Skiing, paddle tennis, swimming, tennis, softball and golf were other sports she enjoyed.

Professionally, Kennedy worked at Norwalk’s Home Instead Senior Care. But she also worked at many local YMCAs and the Wakeman Boys and Girls Club, where she helped organize kids’ athletic leagues and ran weekend birthday parties for children.

Kennedy was predeceased by her mother, Evelyn Holland Duff, and a brother, Robert Duff. She is survived by her husband, John T. Kennedy, her two children, Michael B. Kennedy and Cary E. Kennedy, her father, George H. Duff and many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours are Thursday, June 9 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, June 10 at 10 a.m. at St. Pius X Church, 834 Brookside Drive, followed by a private burial at Oak Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a contribution in Valerie's memory may be made to the Smilow Cancer Center at Yale New-Haven Hospital's "Momentum Fund", PO Box 7611, New Haven, CT 06519-0611.

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