Candace Kennedy

Candace “Candy” Kennedy, 62 of Indianapolis passed away peacefully at home on June 27, 2021 surrounded by her loving family members. Candy fought a long and courageous battle against colon cancer for over eight years and showed the world how to have dignity, grace, and compassion for others even while she was suffering from this terrible disease.

Candy was born in Jasper, IN to Walter & Jewell Canary on January 7, 1959 and attended the Barr-Reeve School District, graduating from the high school in 1978. She attended IUPUI studying Radiologic Technology and obtained her Associates Degree in 1978. She was employed in the field of radiology, specializing in mammography, and ended up with 40 years of service at Wishard/Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis.

After moving to Loogootee, IN in 1976, she was employed at the Walton’s drive in restaurant as a carhop. One day a boy named Albert Kennedy stopped by the restaurant to get a vanilla ice cream cone and this carhop named Candy delivered to his car a vanilla coke! The rest is history as they fell in love, married in 1980, and remained married for over 41 years.

Candy had a very big heart and constantly worried about others and would often cook meals for families who had a sick family member even though, at times, she was not feeling well herself, always seeming to be able to put others first. Candy was also good at keeping anything told in confidence to herself, so your secrets were always safe with her.

Candy was a superb cook, having learned country cooking from her mother, and anyone that came to the house to eat always left very satisfied and often asked if they could have her recipes which she willingly shared. Candy will be greatly missed by her family, friends, co-workers, patients, and anyone else that she touched with her kind heart.

Some of the things that brought joy to Candy were being with family, especially her children and grandchildren, taking family vacations, and riding in her Mustang convertible with the top down with the wind blowing through her hair. Most recently, even though she was very ill, Candy managed to take a vacation to Florida with the entire family to her favorite beach on the Florida west coast and witness her grandchildren getting into the ocean for the first time in their young lives and to see them enjoy their very first experience at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Her family, doctors, and friends were amazed that she was able to have the energy to complete this trip, but her willpower and her belief in the Lord gave her the strength that she needed, and after having returned home, her health deteriorated rapidly and she now sits in heaven next to our Lord smiling, pain free, and watching over all of us.

Candy was preceded in death by her parents, sister Camilla Rayhill, and brother Everett Canary. She is survived by her husband Albert, daughter Stephanie Routh (Matt), son Scott Kennedy, grandchildren Cassidy and Nathaniel Routh, sister Celena Hoffman, brother Don Canary, brother Ed Canary, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Candy will be held on Friday, July 2nd from 4-8 pm at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 9950 Southeastern Avenue in Indianapolis. The funeral will be held on Saturday, July 3rd at 11 am, also at the church. Following the funeral, Candy will be entombed into the Garden of America Mausoleum at Crown Hill Cemetery. If you are inclined to send flowers, please have them delivered to the church after 2 pm on Friday, July 2nd. The family would encourage donations to the Colon Cancer Coalition in Candy’s name at https://coloncancercoalition.org/ in order to help fight this terrible disease called cancer.