Kay Anne Kennedy (20 Nov 1973 - 19 Oct 2023)

In loving memory of Kay Anne Kennedy who sadly passed away on 19th October 2023.
Kay was born in Plaistow on 20th November 1973 and grew up in Stratford in the east end of London, with her mum and sister. She attended West Ham Church school and then Sarah Bonnell secondary school.
Mandy her older sister said their childhood was poor in money but rich in love. Money was scarce with their mum making their clothes, not much hot water, and ice on the inside of the windows in the winter months.
Kay spent a lot of her childhood playing outside in the street or park with her sister and friends skating, running around and scrapping with the boys. She loved going to her grandads house on a Saturday with mum and sister on the long bus ride to Walthamstow to catch up with family. As a teenager she joined the Air Training Corp and cut off all of her hair. Then following work experience at school as an electrician Kay knew the career she wanted to choose.
She joined Ford Motor Company in 1991 as an apprentice electrician and went on to work at the Enfield plant until it eventually closed in the early 2000’s.
As one of only a few women in a male dominated workforce in the maintenance department, Kay could easily have felt intimidated. But she was quite the opposite, giving as good as she got in every situation whether it be an argument or practical joke. She proved herself to be an exceptional electrician with high standards and a good work ethic, and was well thought of by all of her peers. She went on to work in the machine build department designing and building production lines as a team from scratch. If ever there was a practical joke or wind up going on Kay would usually be found in the middle of it all, often recalling tales of water fights and similar pranks during shutdown periods.
It was at Ford Enfield plant that Kay and Jim met in 1996 and started dating in 1997 following an invite to a wedding. Once they became a couple they became inseparable choosing to spend most of their time together in each others company rather than on lavish nights out and soon moved into Kays flat in Stratford together. Kay fell pregnant and gave birth to their son James (Jamie) in March 1999 and they soon moved to their first house in the November of that year. Kay was a hard working mum getting up at 5am every day in Rayleigh to wash and feed James before dropping him at his grandparents house in Ilford and going to start work in Enfield at 8am. She would then finish at 4pm, collect James, get home feed and bathe him, and put him to bed ready to start all over again the next day.
Their second child Maisie came along in April 2002 and life seemed complete. Kay loved the children more than anything else and spent all of her time spoiling them and showering them with love. Quite often having to carry out Birthday or Christmas duties alone due to Jims shift work without any complaint (well not much).
The first family holiday together was in 2000 to Cornwall and from then on Kay was hooked. Choosing to go on holiday there rather than anywhere else. Around 2007 they booked the family holiday to Perranporth by chance. Since visiting that year Kay had found her happy place and wanted nothing more than to be on the beach at Perranporth with the children the dog and Jim (and maybe a beverage) and they returned every year as a family and enjoying happy memories together.
When the plant in Enfield closed Kay went on to work in a few jobs making new friends wherever she went and applying her high standards to each one. Her last job was at Screwfix where she made many new friends especially with the youngsters. She seemed to be a motherly figure to them all. Often coming home recalling their stories, offering advice and worrying about them all.
Probably due to her humble beginnings Kay was a very contented person, who never expressed any wishes for lavish or extravagant things. She loved her family and her home and took great care of everything she owned. She was extremely house proud with the house needing to be cleaned from top to bottom before anyone could visit. She would love to have family round especially her beloved nieces Eve and Rosie.
Kay was always a fiercely loyal and brave person standing up to anyone who was doing her or her family wrong. She was never braver than when she was diagnosed with cancer. She just seemed to shrug her shoulders and vowed to fight it with everything she had which she did. Opting to take the least amount of pain killers to remain awake with her family for longer. She kept her good humour until the end making those around her laugh with a rude comment or cheeky grin. The care that Kay received from all of the staff at Fair Havens hospice was truly humbling with no request going unanswered, and Kay was treated with dignity and respect until the end. Kay's family will be forever grateful to everyone there.
Kay was a wonderful wife, mother, auntie, sister and friend. Her departure has left a massive hole in our lives which will never be filled. But she has given us a wealth of memories of love laughter kindness and courage we will always remember.