Berneice Beezie "Beezie" Kennedy

Berneice (Beezie) Marie Nieslanik Kennedy was born June 1, 1924 in Sheridan, Wyoming. She and her twin brother, Bernie were the second and third children born to John and Mary Nieslanik. Nine more brothers and sisters followed. When she was five, her parents and grandparents gathered their family of six children and moved from the coal mining town of Sheridan to a ranch in Spring Valley, outside of Glenwood Springs, CO. As one of the oldest of 12, she helped with the housework, cooking, and caring for her younger siblings, as well as working in the fields.

Elementary school was a one room school house about a 3 mile walk down the road. She spent her high school years living in town with her grandparents and a sister or two, again working to help out. Upon graduation, she made her way to the big city of Denver where she attended Mercy School of Nursing, becoming a registered nurse. Her first nursing job was with the Navy Nurses Corps where she met the love of her life, Bob Kennedy. They married a year later and were together for almost 67 years.

During the course of their marriage, they had 4 daughters, Marcia, Debbie, Terri, and Jeanne. They moved a number of times and with each move, Beezie would get the house established, her girls enrolled in a local Catholic school, and then find a job, primarily to pay tuition! Her nursing career spanned the breadth of the field, from doctor’s offices, to private duty nursing, hospitals, nursing homes, to work in industrial settings; always caring deeply for the patients and her co-workers. Through all of this she still had time to be there for friends and family.

She could always be counted on to lend a hand to anyone In need. She was a great cook and everyone in the neighborhood knew where to find their kids when she was baking cookies. They were all in her backyard! All of the neighbors knew she was a nurse, so she became the local medical expert wherever she lived, even in her senior living community. Friends, neighbors and family came with questions, to have her look at anything unusual, to learn how to give themselves a shot, or in some cases, have her give them a shot.

Other than spending time with family and friends, the things she enjoyed most were cards, needlework, and golf. She was an avid bridge player and as Bob would say, would rather golf than cook. Retirement brought Beezie and Bob to Sun Lakes where they were able to indulge their love of golf and a very active social life for over 25 years.

The past couple of years were physically challenging for her. Her legs began to weaken making it impossible to golf any longer and her eyesight diminished to the point where she could no longer play bridge, but she still tried to crochet and enjoyed listening to books for the blind. They provided her with much pleasure in the past couple of years.

Beezie was a strong woman who led by example teaching her children and grandchildren to always enjoy life, think of and do for others and fight for what is right. Beezie is survived by daughters, Marcia Kennedy, Debbie Anger (Paul), Terri Schroeder (Max), and Jeanne Bez (Greg) and grandchildren, Kyle Anger (Adrianne), Caitlin and Christopher Schroeder, siblings John Nieslanik (Theresa), Paul Nieslanik (Celia), Bob Nieslanik, Jim Nieslanik (Sharon), Ray Nieslanik (Elaine), and Fran Mattivi as well as numerous nieces and nephews. We will all miss her greatly.

Services to be held at St. Andrew the Apostle 3450 West Ray Road Chandler, Arizona 85226. A Rosary will begin at 11:00 am, followed by Mass at 11:30 am. Inurnment will take place at 2:30 pm at Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery 10940 East Chandler Heights Road Chandler, Arizona 85248.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either Hospice of the Valley (https://www.hov.org/donate) in thanks for their amazing care during her final days or the American Federation for the Blind, to help support the wonderful work they do with the Talking Book program (https://www.afb.org/donate.aspx?action=fullform#content).

Arrangements under the direction of Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery, Chandler, AZ.