Mary E. Kennedy

Mary E. (Goulding) Kennedy passed away on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at the age of 82. Born in Framingham, MA, she was raised in Sherborn, MA. She lived in Fall River and then New Bedford for many years. She was the eldest daughter of the late Merton and Alma(Decker) Goulding.

Mary deeply loved her children, family, and friends. Mary will be remembered for sending greeting cards to those she loved and cared for every holiday, anniversary, birthday, and special occasion, letting them know that they were loved and thought of often.

Cooking, baking, and feeding family and friends brought her much joy and comfort, as she often claimed that no one prepares dishes as well as she did.

Mary also had a deep appreciation for live music. She attended many concerts and music events throughout her life. Even in her later years, she would drive her wheelchair to the Zeiterion Theatre, where she would sit in the front row of concerts and holiday musicals.

Mary loved Christmas; she brought the season's magic to life for all who knew her.

Before having children, she did a brief stint in the Navy until realizing she suffered from extreme motion sickness. Mary then worked for many years as a telephone operator for New England Telephone and Telegraph Company. She then worked in the healthcare industry for many years, caring for the ill and elderly. Mary was a hard-working single mother, making sure her children never went without. She always made a point to make the holidays special and, in addition, took them camping in Cape Cod every summer with her extended family.

Mary is survived by her son, Ronald, and his wife, Deborah; her daughter, Rhonda, and her husband, Jeffrey. Mary was predeceased by her youngest daughter, Heather, the heartbreak of her life. Mary is also survived by her grandchildren, Evan, Molly, Sadie, and Chancellor, as well as several great-grandchildren.

Mary also leaves behind her three sisters, Marjorie Oliver, Louise Zagami, and Cynthia Thompson. Mary was also the aunt to several nieces and a nephew.

Mary had a great sense of humor and was a faithful and devoted friend to many. All will miss her dearly.

A celebration of life will follow at a later date in the Spring. We invite all who knew and loved Mary to write a fond memory on the Rock Funeral Home website: dignitymemorial.com