It is with great sadness that the family of Edward James Kennedy (Ted) announce his unexpected departure from this Earth on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at the age of 71.
Ted was born on Christmas Day, 1951 in Lethbridge, Alberta. When he was ten years old, the family moved to Red Deer, where Ted spent his formative years. He went on to live in Calgary after graduation, where for a number of years he worked for the Calgary Albertan. He moved to the West Coast in 1987 first to Vancouver, where he worked in the graphic design industry, then to Victoria in 2002. In his retirement, he moved back to sunny Southern Alberta, settling in Claresholm, where he enjoyed travelling to visit with family and friends or visiting towns and sites that usually held a historical and/or family meaning to him, he was after all, the “family archivist”.
In his new home in Claresholm, he discovered a wonderful community of caring and supportive friends. We knew these people meant a great deal to Ted, as he spoke of them often, and as a family, we wish to thank his Claresholm friends and neighbours for keeping an extra eye on him.
Though he lived a quiet and unassuming life, our brother was an interesting, multi-faceted man. Ted loved (and collected) all kinds of music, a lifelong interest for which he had a naturally good ear. He also enjoyed fine wine, often a special red he had found on one of his road trips to the wine regions of Oregon, California, or in the smaller yield wineries of BC. Ted was also an avid card player who played bridge and crib weekly, but his true skill and big love was poker, a game where his strategic thinking and ability to read people always upped his game.
Ted will be forever missed by his siblings: Laurel, Rod, Dianne, Bill, Patrick and their entire families. He was predeceased by his younger sister, Barbara, and his parents, William and Edna Kennedy.
Ted took great joy being amongst the laughter, folly and chaos of a big family, thus so, was a fixture at all family gatherings. Ted was a kind, generous, empathetic man, with a great sense of humour who loved his family deeply. We will all miss you, Ted.
A Celebration of Ted’s Life will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 1:00 pm at the Parkside Manor (325 4 Avenue West, Claresholm, AB).
To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Ted, please visit www.choicememorial.com.