Zelda Elaine Kennedy (Armstrong) graced this world with her presence on December 9, 1942, to Mervin and Mrytle Armstrong in Bellingham, Wash. at St. Joseph's Hospital. She was the fourth of eight children.
On July 31, 2023, Zelda passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her children and preceded in death by her parents, Mervin and Myrtle; brothers, James and Vincent; and sisters, Mrytle and Edith. Her brother Roger passed away shortly after her.
Zelda, Z, Zeldar the Magnificent, married her high school sweetheart, Jerry F. Kennedy in 1960. They moved to Kodiak, Alaska and continued to grow their family, having four children, Jerry F. Kennedy, Jr., Julia Mae (Denny), Cheri (Scott) and Charmaine (Christian). Zelda created a warm, safe, loving home in Kodiak before the family moved to Port Townsend in 1976, where she and Jerry purchased a new home for the family, The Judge Ralston House. Zelda, once again, created a warm, loving place for her family, making it the Kennedy Home, filled with love, laughter, home cooking, family, friends, holidays filled with joy. Zelda truly poured her heart and soul into her family and friends, taking care of her children with just the right amount of love and discipline. All were welcome in her home and the children's friends could often be found hanging out, especially around mealtime, Zelda was a pretty darn good cook. Zelda also opened her arms, her heart and her home to Sara Craig, a young lady who moved to the neighborhood and was looking for some kids to play with. It did not take long before Sara (Chris) was part of the Kennedy Family and is still our sister to this day! Zelda truly was an amazing woman, mother, friend, grandma, as well as an avid gardener and bowler, cake baker and book lover!
There was music in Zelda's home every day, one of her all-time favorites being Elvis, she loved The King! The ducks and geese in the pond behind her home brought Zelda much joy. She loved the pond and its families, feeding them and taking care of the pond so they had a nice place to spend time together. Zelda also cultivated the beautiful gardens around her home, and on any given day, she could be found taking a walk with the intention of cleaning up litter. Zelda's sobriety was an important part of her life the last 35 years, something she was proud of and worked hard to achieve, while helping many others on the same journey, one day at a time!
Zelda's passion for life continues to grow in her family that have survived her, her children as well as her childhood friend, Roberta Finkbonner (Sammie), her sister Darlene (Gary) and brother Greg, her grandchildren Joseph (Janissa), Jonathan (Sammie), Elizabeth (Josh), Lydia (Alex), Lucas and Jake (Demi) and her great grandchildren, Mason, Owen (aka Otis), Ender, Zoey, Thomas and Benjamin. And of course, Cooper.
Bloom where you are planted, one of her favorites! A lover of life, with kindness that she sprinkled around endlessly making this world a better place! As a mom, the unconditional love she showed her children will be greatly missed. As a florist at Holly's, she continued to spread her love through flowers! As a friend, you couldn't ask for a better one! The kindness, empathy and courage Zelda shared with the world will continue through all the lives she touched. The saying outside the door to her home: Peace To All Who Enter Here truly is the way she lived. Zelda was one of a kind, with the upmost love and admiration for a life well lived. Zelda talked the talk, and she walked the walk ~ Right On!
