Mary Ann Kennedy Nicholson
Obituary
Mary Ann Neff Kennedy Nicholson passed away peacefully, at home, under Hospice care, with her family surrounding her on March 24, 2021. She was 81.
Born August 26, 1939 in San Francisco, she moved frequently as a young child while her father was in the Army Air Corp, living in Walla Walla, WA, El Paso, TX, and Lincoln, NE. Following WWII, her family settled in their home at Seacliff Beach in Aptos. Mary Ann spent many days at the beach swimming in the ocean and often reminisced about her many adventures swimming around the cement ship.
She was a graduate of Watsonville High School, class of 1958, attended Monterey Peninsula College, California State University Chico, and graduated from California State University San Jose with a degree in Education. Mary Ann began her teaching career in Santa Cruz, taking time off to raise her children, and retired from the Washington Union School District in Salinas in 1996.
Mary Ann married Bob Kennedy in 1963 and in the late 1960's, moved to Salinas where they raised their two children, Mike and Jill. She became very active in her community and belonged to various clubs and organizations, such as Children's Home Society and 4-H, where she was a leader at both the club and county levels.
After her first husband's passing, Mary Ann became reacquainted with an elementary school classmate, Bob Nicholson, and they were married in 2003. Mary Ann and Bob loved spending time in the mountains at her cabin in Cold Springs and loved everything nature provided, whether it was watching her many plants flourish and bloom, with her loving care or watching the quail scurry about the yard. As long as she had a good book, a loyal dog by her side and a pretty view, she was happy.
Mary Ann and Bob lived in Salinas for a number of years but ultimately returned to their roots in Aptos.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, Bob Kennedy. She is survived by her husband, Bob Nicholson of Aptos; a son, Mike Kennedy (Terry) of Salinas; a daughter, Jill Moore (Erik) of Goleta; stepdaughters Roxanne and Chyrel Nicholson of Aptos; and four grandchildren, Katie, Emily, Daniel, and Sammy.
The family would like to thank Juanita for her special care she gave to Mary Ann during her final months. Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz County. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, July 24, 2021 at 2:00pm at the home of Mike and Terry Kennedy in Salinas.
Funeral Arrangements by Struve and Laporte Funeral Home.
Online condolences to www.struveandlaporte.com
Published in The Pajaronian · April 2, 2021