Estelle B. (Jansen) Kennedy, age 91

Mrs. Estelle B. (Jansen) Kennedy, of Newton, Illinois, passed away at 11:39 AM – Friday, March 4, 2016, at Lakeland Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Effingham, Illinois.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM – Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Newton, Illinois, with Fr. Al Kemme celebrating mass. Burial will be in the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Newton, Illinois. Visitation will be held 2 hours prior to mass at the church. In loving memory of Estelle, memorials may be made to the St. Thomas Building Fund. Arrangements are under the care of the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois.
Estelle was born on September 16, 1924, in Island Grove, Illinois, the eighth child, out of nine children. She was the daughter of Leo B. and Dora (Adams) Jansen. She married Lexie E. Kennedy on November 2, 1949, in Newton, Illinois, and he preceded her in death on February 17, 1997.
Estelle was a homemaker, loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Newton, Illinois.
Estelle enjoyed gardening, sewing, cooking, and playing cards.
Estelle is survived by:
Daughters – Patsy (Jay) Leffler and Jane (Mike) Knicley both of Newton, Illinois
Grandchildren – Kelley Leffler of Newton, Illinois; Kate (Mike) Passalacqua of Effingham, Illinois; Colleen Swick of Effingham, Illinois; Adam (Kelly) Knicley of Newton, Illinois; Jordan Knicley of Wheeler, Illinois; Caroline (Ben) Stevenson of Indianapolis, Indiana; Christina (Richard) Landon of Lafayette, Indiana; John Kennedy of Indianapolis, Indiana and Thomas (Jessica) Kennedy of Dubuque, Iowa.
Great Grandchildren – Stella and Gracie Passalacqua, Chae and Emslee Swick, Jack, Chloe and Max Stevenson, and Michael Kennedy.
Brother-in-Law – Oliver Emmerich of Newton, Illinois
Sisters-in-law – Angela Jansen of Island Grove, Illinois and Ruth Jansen of Effingham, Illinois.
Estelle was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Lexie; son, Jerry; brothers, Clete Jansen, Fritz Jansen, Reuben Jansen, Eddie Jansen, and Rich Jansen; sisters, Leona Probst, Alice Kaufman, and Anna Emmerich.