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At Funeral, Former Mount Kisco Mayor Remembered As Humble Public Servant

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. -- The altruism from Mount Kisco Mayor Henry V. "Hank" Kensing was remembered on Saturday morning at his funeral.

A bagpiper leads pallbearers who are escorting the casket for Henry V. "Hank" Kensing at his funeral in Mount Kisco.

A bagpiper leads pallbearers who are escorting the casket for Henry V. "Hank" Kensing at his funeral in Mount Kisco.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Pallbearers carry the casket of Henry V. "Hank" Kensing at his funeral in Mount Kisco.

Pallbearers carry the casket of Henry V. "Hank" Kensing at his funeral in Mount Kisco.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Pallbearers escort the casket of Henry V. "Hank" Kensing at his funeral in Mount Kisco.

Pallbearers escort the casket of Henry V. "Hank" Kensing at his funeral in Mount Kisco.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
The casket of Henry V. "Hank" Kensing is placed into a hearse, marking the conclusion of his funeral in Mount Kisco.

The casket of Henry V. "Hank" Kensing is placed into a hearse, marking the conclusion of his funeral in Mount Kisco.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie

At the funeral, which was held at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Kensing's son, Sean, delivered a eulogy amid sobs for a man who was a longstanding fixture in the village.

"We know how he lived," the young Kensing said, adding that he showed "humility, service to others and love."

The funeral was held with a packed crowd sitting in the pews; there was standing room only. Kensing, who died on Monday and had an elected career spanning from the 1960s to 2000s, served as a village trustee and as village justice in addition to his time as mayor, which was from 1967 to 1981.

Sean Kensing recalled how his father was dying of cancer while staying at Northern Westchester Hospital, the same place where he was born more than 83 years ago.

There, he was consoled by his wife and three other women whom he knew. Kensing's son compared their literal presence, in which they touched him at his bedside, to being metaphorically touched by countless longstanding Mount Kisco families - from Foxes to Buetis to Terlizzis - and how he was figuratively taken back to scores of stores - such as the Brass Horn and Fox & Sutherland - in the village.

"He felt all of those hands on him," Sean Kensing said.

In a way, Sean Kensing noted, being touched by was a way in which Jesus was making his presence known.

"Jesus just happened to look like four women," he said.

The presence of Jesus, through the actions of Kensing's caregivers at the hospital, was also noted by Father Steven Clark, who delivered prayers and communion along with his fellow clergymen. 

While suffering is often a detested facet of life, Sean Kensing noted that his father was not bitter about having gone through it due to cancer.

"My father never considered himself to be above suffering," he young, adding that, "he never got angry about it."

In contrast, Sean Kensing said, it was rest of the family that struggled to accept it.

Following services inside, Kensing's casket, covered in the U.S. flag, was carried out by pallbearers and placed into a hearse. Once attendees emptied from the church, a motorcade that included the hearse took off. 

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