Joan B. Kennedy

Mrs. Kennedy was born on June 18, 1924, in New York City, the daughter of Henry Forbes Bigelow and Barbara (Welles) Bigelow.

She married Walter Kennedy on Sept. 18, 1948. He predeceased her in 1997.

Mrs. Kennedy was a graduate of Concord Academy. She attended Radcliffe College, Boston University, and Western Reserve University. She met her husband of 49 years at Harvard in 1940. She was one of the first women Morse Code operators during World War II, transcribing overseas transmissions for the duration of the war. A lover of wild flowers and lifelong amateur ornithologist, she loved the Old Lyme woods and seashore. One of the many joys of her life was the wonderful community of neighbors and friends in Old Lyme.

Mrs. Kennedy is survived by her daughter, Lisa Giordano of South Windsor; her son, Nicols Kennedy of Wilton; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; her sister, Barbara Dunn of Massachusetts; numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, 2011, in The First Congregational Church, Lyme St., Old Lyme.

Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, Old Lyme, is handling the arrangements.

Please visit www.fultontherouxoldlyme.com for photos, tributes, and more service information.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Joan's memory to the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, Library Lane, Old Lyme CT 06371 or Hospice Southeastern Connecticut, www.hospicesect.org/