July 1, 2022

OBITUARY: Sister Alice Kenney, SSJ

REGIONAL

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Sister of St. Joseph Alice Kenney, (formerly Sister James Martin), 94, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died at Bethany Health Care Center in Framingham on June 29. A native of Newport, R.I., she was the daughter of Martin and Mary (McMahon) Kenney, sister of James and Edward Kenney.

She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from St. Joseph Parish, Newport in 1947. She graduated from St. Catherine Academy in Newport, R.I. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee and a master’s degree in German from Assumption College in Worcester, Mass. She pursued additional studies at Boston College; University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y.; and The Catholic University, Washington, D.C. She also spent a sabbatical year at Notre Dame University.

She taught at Cathedral Grammar School and Cathedral High School, both in Springfield. While teaching at Cathedral High she also served as chair of the Language Department. She served as principal at Marianhill Central High School in Southbridge, Mass., for two years before returning to Cathedral High School as principal in 1973. From 1980-1996 she served as associate director of continuing education at the College of Our Lady of the Elms.

From 1981 to 2007 she coordinated weekly SSJ ministry to the Springfield Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen. When the Springfield Police Department established the Chaplains-on-Call program, she was one of the first to serve and did so for six years. 

In addition to her sisters in community, she is survived by several generations of nieces and nephews, including Sister of St. Joseph Margaret Kenney, Marie Thompson, James Kenney (Laurel), Martin Kenney (Joann), Alice Hamilton (Arthur), Larry Kenney, Edward Kenney, and Ginger Kenney.

Services will take place on Thursday, July 7 at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield. She will be waked at 9 a.m., with a prayer service at 9:45 a.m. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Mont Marie Cemetery in Holyoke.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.