Frances L. Kennedy

Frances L. Kennedy, 83, of Indianapolis, passed away on March 12, 2009. She was born on November 20, 1925 to Lorene and James Meredith in Tennessee and was married for 49 years to William E. Kennedy, Jr. who preceded her in death. She was the former Chairman of the Board of Kennedy Tank and Manufacturing serving on the Boards of Directors of all the Kennedy companies in Indiana and Kentucky. Fran had been a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church for 47 years, transferring to St. Luke parish when she moved from Meridian-Kessler. All of her children were married at Immaculate Heart of Mary. She was a member of St. Vincent Hospital Guild, Benefe?Guild, St. Augustine Guild, The White River Yacht Club, a 50-year member of the Indianapolis Athletic Club and Highland Golf and Country Club where she and her family enjoyed many wonderful years golfing, dining, and celebrating holidays. Fran will be remembered as a woman of elegance and grace, a consummate entertainer and hostess, and the matriarch of a family who cherished their holidays, especially St. Patrick?s Day, the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, and Christmas. Anyone who passed the family home of nearly...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

years on North Meridian Street could sense the passion and never wondered what was being celebrated. Their decorations spoke loud and proud. Fran accompanied her husband, Bill, to the Indy 500 for decades, including their years on the 500 Festival Committee and sponsorship of the Kennedy Tank Special race car. Fall weekends frequently involved trips to South Bend and watching her beloved Notre Dame, keeping the spirit of the Irish alive and well, no matter the time of year. She also never slighted Indiana University, rarely missing an IU football game when her three daughters were in Bloomington. The Delta Gamma parties were a thing of beauty when Fran and Bill hosted. More recently Fran spent winters in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, always welcoming friends and family to her Florida home. While there, she loved trips to ?The Pier? where she shared lunch with several of her Floridian friends. The Kennedys certainly never met a stranger. When in Indianapolis, she was an expert at ?the game,? organizing weekend Rack Rummy parties with her close friends. The invitees will also never forget Fran Kennedy?s St. Valentine?s Day Massacre, a gin rummy tradition that ran thirty - one years with the winner taking home a very generous and coveted trophy. Fran is survived by her four children, Peggy Shorter (Mark),Jacksonville FL., Kathy Fairchild (Thom), Pat Kennedy (Cheryl) both of Indianapolis, IN, and Ann Bolin (Paul) Carmel, IN . She has 11 grandchildren, Kelly Shorter Schneider(Matt) and Mickey Shorter, Jacksonville, FL., Kimberly and Kyle Fairchild, Maura , Billy, Jimmy and Patrick Kennedy Indianapolis, IN, Courtney, Kevin and Brian Bolin, Carmel, IN. Her family and her friend and caretaker of nineteen years, Naomi Wells, were at her bedside as she passed comfortably to God?s hand, just in time to organize a St. Paddy?s Day up-in-heaven party for herself and Bill. All who knew her were blessed and agree that she spent a long, generous, and full life, adding something to all with whom she came in contact. She will be dearly missed. Family and friends will gather on Monday March 16th from 4:00 to 8:00 pm in the Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel with a Mass of Christian Burial being celebrated on March 17th at 10:00 am in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. You are invited to visit the website www.leppertmortuary.com where you may share a personal memory of Fran, sign the guest book or make a memorial contribution to either Little Sisters of the Poor or St. Vincent Hospital Guild.