MACHIAS – Dana S. Kennedy, 96, of Dorman Road, Harrington, went to be with his wife, April 28, 2012, at Marshall Healthcare, Machias, surrounded by family. Born May 3, 1915, in Milbridge to John and Harriet (Strout) Kennedy.
Dana attended Harrington schools and graduated from Harrington High School in 1933. Dana met the love of his life, Madeline (Nichols) in 1940 and they were married for 65 years until her passing in 2005. He began working in the farming and wood industry as a young boy and did so for 30 years, taking several summers to work on the Great Lakes. He then went to work at L. Ray Packing Company for more than 30 years while continuing to work in the woods. Madeline and Dana always tried to find time to rake blueberries in summer, which they both loved to do. He enjoyed raising a garden, hunting, watching the Red Sox, telling stories from his childhood days and his grandchildren. When he retired at age 72, he spent his time teaching his grandchildren how to hunt, rake blueberries or driving them to school. When Madeline became sick he was her primary caregiver, making sure he got her to church when he could. When it became too much, he could be seen at Marshall’s with her everyday.
Dana was predeceased by his parents, an infant son, Robert; son-in-law, Raymond Brown; brother, John Jr. and wife, Virginia; sister, Barbara Spizio and husband, Ernest. He is survived by his daughters, Rita Brown of Kentucky and RuthAnn Preston and husband, Travis, of Roque Bluffs; his son, Ronald and wife, Christy, of Harrington; grandchildren, Dana and Danielle Brown of Kentucky, Jeremy Parker of Old Orchard Beach, Kyle Parker and companion, Samantha Mitchell of Columbia, Leighann Preston of South Portland, Everett Kennedy and wife, Rebecca, of Harrington, Bradley Kennedy and companion, Ashton Thomas, of Harrington; great-grandchildren, Haley Madeline Kennedy, Dakota Allen Colbeth, Nathan Kennedy Parker and Keegan Dana Kennedy; special nephews, Chet Jr. and Larry Nichols, whom Madeline and Dana raised as their own for several years; in-laws, Natalie and Robert Wass, Beatrice and George Hammond and Hilda Nichols. The family would like to thank the nursing staff at Marshall Healthcare for the excellent love and care they gave to our father over the last five years.
A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at First Baptist Church of Harrington. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery, Harrington. Bragdon-Kelley Funeral Home, Machias.