Obituary of Rita Kay Kennedy
Rita Kay Kennedy
Rita Kay Kennedy of Webster, N.Y., passed away on April 8, 2019, at Strong Memorial Hospital
in Rochester, N.Y., at the age of 74 after lengthy health struggles. Kay, as her family and friends
knew her, was a retired, proud public-school teacher at Durand-Eastman Elementary School in
East Irondequoit, N.Y., who dedicated her life and love to helping hundreds of children mature,
learn, grow and believe in themselves over 20 years of service at Durand. Kay was a devoted
mother, daughter, sister and wife who also worked to instill the traits of understanding,
determination, fairness and love to her two sons and all of the loved ones in her life.
Born Rita Kay McAdams on Jan. 15, 1945, to H.T. “Mac” McAdams and Catherine (Jouett)
McAdams in Greene County, Ill., Kay’s family held deep roots in the farming country of western
Illinois. She, her parents and sister Connie moved to Clarence, N.Y., when Kay was young, and
she graduated from high school there in 1963. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from
Allegheny College in 1967 and a master’s in education from Brockport State in 1989. Soon after
graduating Brockport she was hired at Durand-Eastman.
She and her first husband, Edward Whirty, had sons Ryan and Nathan Whirty. Kay married her
second husband, Don Kennedy, who was the love of her life, in 1981. Over the years, Kay lived
in an array of locales, including Bethalto, Ill.; Williamsville, N.Y.; Raleigh, N.C.; Meadville, Pa.;
Oklahoma City; Ontario, N.Y.; Sodus Point, N.Y.; and Webster, N.Y.
Kay’s inner strength, the love of her family and friends, and her unshakeable belief in and trust
of God saw her through numerous emotional and physical trials, including the early deaths of
her husband and her sister, three bouts of breast cancer, and multiple strokes.
Kay was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Kennedy; her parents, H.T. and Catherine
McAdams; her brother Dennis McAdams; and her sister, Connie Carbonara. She is survived by
her sons, Ryan Whirty (and special friend Lori Schexnayder and her son Eli) of New Orleans
and Nathan Whirty of Portland, Ore.; her niece, Dawn Ovitt and nephew Michael Maggio; and
several grand nieces and nephews. Also mourning her loss are many relatives in western
Illinois, including her beloved cousin, Linda Kniepp; several step children and in-laws, including
her mother-in-law, Ann Henehan; her fellow teachers from Durand-Eastman Elementary School;
and her many friends and other loved ones.
A memorial service for Kay will be held Saturday, July 27, 2019, at the North Ontario United
Methodist Church (The Brick Church), 7200 Ontario Center Rd., Ontario, N.Y., 14519, at 11
a.m. Calling hours before the service at 10 a.m., followed by a reception with refreshments at
the church. Burial of her ashes in Lake View Cemetery in Pultneyville, N.Y., in a small ceremony
for close family and friends. Arrangements are by Falvo Funeral Home, Webster, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Lollypop Farm/the Humane Society of Greater
Rochester; Humane Society of Wayne County; or the Susan g. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation.
