Marie Elizabeth Kenney

Marie Elizabeth (Koed) Kenney, 91, passed away Monday, March 14, 2016, in her home in Alexandria, Virginia. She was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, John F.C.Kenney, Jr. (U.S. Army Colonel, Retired), by less than a month. Marie is survived by her daughters, Catherine Marie Hale and Mary Elizabeth Brenner; her sons-in-law, Richard Hale and Matthew Brenner; and her grandchildren, Colleen, Ethan and Zachary Brenner.

Marie was born on June 15, 1924, to Walter and Gertrude Koed. She grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where she knew her future husband John as one of brother Gene's best friends. It was when he returned from World War II service that they fell in love and became engaged. The wedding had to wait until John graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point); they were married the next morning, June 4, 1952.

For the next 30 years, Marie served as an Army Wife through a dozen moves, raising their daughters and lending her time and talents to the community, volunteering in the hospitals where they were stationed, and leading a Girl Scout Troop in her Waynewood neighborhood. She became a guide at historic Woodlawn Plantation for many years, and helped found the in-house catering group for the Teas and weddings held at the house. Marie also partnered with John as small business owners after his retirement from the Army, and enjoyed the many new friends they made as well as the traveling they did.

Marie will be buried with John at Arlington National Cemetery on June 7, with the service at 10:45 a.m. at the Old Post Chapel on Fort Myer, and burial immediately after. There will also be a visitation the evening before (Monday, June 6) from 5:30 to 7:30, at Demaine Funeral Home in Old Town Alexandria.