Mary Betty Elizabeth Kennedy Johnson

Mary Elizabeth Kennedy Johnson (90) passed away on October 25, 2012. She died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by family. Services will be held at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Mesa, Arizona. She is survived by her bother James.D. Kennedy, 4 Sons, Chuck, Pat, Ken and Geoffrey Johnson. One daughter, Joelle Johnson Edwards & Husband Allen. 14 grandchildren: Stefanie Johnson Monahan & Husband Michael, Christopher & Wife Nicole, Ashley, Ellie, Aaron, Eric, Robert, Melanie and Matthew Johnson, Rachel, Caitlin, Hannah and Emma Edwards.Ten great grand-children:. Zachary, Nolan and Alexander Monahan. Skylar and Rowan Johnson. Sofia and Cason DiBardiono. Dereck, Tyler, Talen Johnson. She is predeceased by one grand child, Charles Evans Johnson, Jr and her brother Paul C. Kennedy

Born and raised Catholic, making the choice to attend nurses training at McKennan School of Nursing was an easy one. She quickly found out that was all that was easy about the school. The sisters were very strict but honest and fair. Their mornings started at 7am sharp and a typical day involved both class time and working with patients. They worked for their tuition and were paid $5.00 a week and tuition was $50.00 a year. Their days often went late into the evening finishing when their patients were fed, settled and comfortable.

Her intense love of nursing followed her for the entirety of her life. Later in life she relocated to Yuma, Arizona. She immediately landed a job at the local hospital and in short order was running the Intensive Care Unit. (ICU). During her years at Yuma Regional Medical Center she was intricately involved with the expansion of the Unit from 6 beds to a 17 bed ICU/CCU.Which was a state of the art unit for the time. She loved and thrived working at the hospital and made many friends.

She retired in 1984 and moved to the Phoenix area. Her love and compassion she took from her work was transformed to her many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Throughout her life she was a caring, compassionate, loving mother, grandmother and friend. She was always there to help or lend a helping hand.

Mary was laid to rest at Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery in Chandler, Arizona. In Lieu of Flowers the family is requesting that donations be made to Lund Family Hospice 1982 E. Woodside Ct Gilbert, Arizona 85297 in honor of Mary Elizabeth Kennedy Johnson