Beatrice P. (Patterson) Kenney obituary

Beatrice P. (Patterson) Kenney
1925-2018

BURNHAM — Beatrice P. Kenney, 92, passed away Feb. 20, 2018, peacefully in her home with her family by her side.
She was born Dec. 31, 1925, in Burnham, the fourth child born to Freeman and Harriot (Hattie) Patterson.

She attended Reynolds Corner Grammar school and graduated from Unity High School as valedictorian of her class. She was an avid softball and basketball player.
She often talked about the year after high shchool she spent in Texas with her uncle and aunt, James and Foss Patterson. While there, she worked as a waitress at the University of Texas Austin. On July 6, 1946, she married her husband of 62 years, Ernest Kenney. Throughout her life she worked as a teacher at Reynolds Corner Grammar school, Burnham Village School. Later in life, her former students would say she was their favorite teacher. She also worked at Ethan Allen and Holt’s Market. She and her husband took over the landmark Patterson Store in 1974 and ran it for more than 10 years.
She selflessly devoted her life to her family with love, generosity, wisdom and humor. She enjoyed bible studies and the ladies luncheon every Wednesday at Patterson Store. She and Ernest ran cribbage tournaments at the Burnham town hall for more than 20 years, making many friends. She enjoyed hosting a lawn sale every year at her house to meet new friends. Through her years she had many beloved dogs, most recently Tilly, one of the many strays that knew where to go to find a loving home. She enjoyed feeding her seagulls and loved her cats, Scamper and Daisy, very much.
She was an active member in the Winnecook Christian Church, to which she and Ernest donated the land in 1981. They were instrumental in helping build the church, and she was a lifetime deaconess.
She was predeceased by her parents, husband Ernest, brother Wilfred (Tommy) and wife Thelma, brother Edward and three brother in-laws, Alfred (Barney) Miles, Francis (Tappy) Grignon, and Leon Libby.
She is survived by three children — Cheryl and husband Don Rossignol, Douglas and wife Ellen Kenney, and their youngest son Brian. She was a proud grandmother of Derek, Dion, and Devin Rossigno, Adam Kenney and Brandie (Kenney) Rhoda. She was a great-grandmother to Kameron, Kalli, Caleb, Madison, River, Mica, Leo, Szcherod, Jahyra, Kayin, Chase, and Amelia. She had one great-great grandson, Miles. She is also survived by two sisters, Barbara Libby and Lillian Grignon, and her sister-in-law Alice Patterson, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A special thank you to Dr. Charles Kriegel for his extra care and to Laura and Katie from VNA hospice for their care. Friends may make donations in her memory to the Waterville Humane Society, 100 Webb Rd, Waterville, ME 04901 or the VNA (Hospice), 325-C Kennedy Memorial Drive, Waterville, ME 04901.
Arrangements under the direction of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, Skowhegan.