Jay Joseph Kenny

Well folks, the time has come for me to pack up my toolbox and start making my way up the stairway to Heaven to see St. Peter.  I hear tell that the pearly gates need some work and I have been called for my interview. 

After almost 82 years on this side of the sod, I passed away at the Kings County Memorial Hospital on July 5th with my family by my side after a short but vexing battle with cancer and liver disease.  I am happy to be united with Mom and Dad, Joe and Genevieve Kenny (nee Jay) as well as my son Kyle Kenny; great grandson Adler Yorston; mother and father-in-law, John and Margaret Quinn (Burton); brothers, Gavin and Tom Kenny; as well as my in-laws, Gavin Quinn, Charlie MacLellan, Big Pete Ryan and Janet Kenny, among many other fine family members and friends that have made the journey before me.

I would like to say “take care and see you later on” to my doll-faced wife, Theresa Kenny (nee Quinn) to whom I have been married to since September 1968 without much of a break.  I love you very much and I never thought I would find someone as stubborn as me, but the good Lord led me to Cardigan where I found you.  Together we raised an amazing family which I am very proud of.  Our daughter, Roberta Rafuse and her husband David; our sons Ronnie Fraser (Shelly), John Kenny (Ma-Ce) Emery Kenny (Jocelyne) and Kyle Kenny (deceased).  Together these kids gave me ten wonderful grandkids that brightened up the last 30+ years of my life, Joey Fraser, Carter Fraser, Dalton Kemp, Hunter Yorston, Abigail Kenny, Kieran Kenny, Khristian Kenny, Benjamin Kenny, Anna Kenny and Lauren Kenny.  I also had the privilege of becoming a great grandfather to Oliver Fraser and Kayson Yorston, thank you for this.   

To my brother Martin I say, you are still in pretty good shape so keep going to the woods, enjoy your grandchildren and keep the Amish mobile, they are down a taxi driver now.  To my sisters, Janet MacLellan, Zita Ryan, Kathleen Rafuse, Genevieve (Billy) McGuigan, and  Maureen Kenny – life will go on, stay healthy, keep traveling and keep mom’s memory alive with all the great cooking, baking and hosting family events as only you can do. 

To my in-laws, Lucille Kenny, Rose Quinn, John Michael Quinn (Cathy), Jimmy Quinn (Debbie), David Quinn (Gladys), Bobby Quinn and my many nieces and nephews I would like to say – quit whinging for me, I lived a good life and have had the pleasure to call you my family.  There are many stories I could tell but the Eastern Graphic would need to run a special issue just for that.

To the people of St. Teresa’s, we have shared this community for the last 82 years, you have given me as much as I have given you.  I have many fond memories of playing ball, swimming in the rivers, fishing, hunting and attending many community events.  Please take care of the community and stay strong,  I will miss you all.  PS - keep the cemetery neat for me as I never liked a messy room. 

There will be a wake for you to come see me one last time in my beloved St. Teresa’s at St. Cuthbert’s Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, July 9th 2026 from 5 – 8 p.m.  My funeral mass will be held at the church on Friday, July 10th 2026 at 11:00 a.m.   I will then be laid to rest beside Kyle in the cemetery where all in attendance can see the headstone I built with the help of my sons, daughter, brother and nephew.  Please note that the Blue Jay’s logo on the headstone is there for Theresa, not for me….I am a NY Yankee’s fan but I lost that argument. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in my memory to St. Cuthbert’s Cemetery Fund.  Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to North Shore Funeral Home, Morell.