Mary Lynn Stiegler Kennedy

Mary Lynn Ann Stiegler Kennedy passed away peacefully at home in Houston, Texas on July 25, 2024 at 99 years of age. Born July 15, 1925 in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Rene Albert and Irma Lambert Mermillod Stiegler, she attended Holy Name of Jesus School from primer through high school. After completing Allen Business School, she was employed as a secretary by Leon Erwin Insurance Agency. She later became a Faculty Secretary in the Accounting Department at Loyola University, working days while attending night classes and earning her Bachelor of Philosophy in 1948. It was there that she met her future husband, Matthew James Kennedy III, who was teaching Accounting while attending law school. They were married at Holy Name of Jesus Church in New Orleans on August 20, 1949 and were inseparable until his passing in 1995. As he was the one and only love of her life, we find joy in knowing that they are finally reunited for eternity.

While she had deep family roots in New Orleans, Mary Lynn was always supportive of Matt’s career moves with Shell Oil Company. His career brought them to New York, where they established homes in both East Norwich and Manhasset on Long Island. In 1970 he was transferred to the new company headquarters in Houston, Texas. She loved their Afton Oaks home and lived there until her passing.

Along with devoting her life to raising their five children, Mary Lynn was an active volunteer in the Charity Guild of Catholic Women, Newman Circle, the Chapel Guild of the University of St. Thomas, and the John McKnitt Alexander Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She was also a patron of the Junior League of Houston, and a 54-year member of the Briar Club. The Kennedy family became members of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in 1970 and Mary Lynn remained an active member until her passing. Her Catholic faith was important to her and she regularly attended daily Mass throughout her life.

Mary Lynn was passionate about her interesting family history and spent many hours engaged in genealogy research at the Library of Congress and National Archives while accompanying Matt on his frequent business trips to Washington D.C. She successfully compiled the necessary documentation to have two of her ancestors approved by the DAR as patriots. An idea inspired by her long ago, she lived to see one of her DAR patriot ancestors, Louis Antoine Andry, recognized with a Texas Historical Marker on Matagorda Bay, as well as being added to the DAR Patriot monument in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

Documenting her own family history through home movies became another passion for Mary Lynn. Long before everyone carried around a video camera on their cell phone, Matt gave her an 8mm film camera for Christmas in 1952, and since that time she recorded every holiday, birthday, travel adventure, and family milestone without fail. Candles could not be blown out unless the camera was rolling! Those silent movies, now digitized, are an important part of her legacy.

The last surviving member of her generation, she was middle sister to Irma Marie Stiegler, Rene Albert Stiegler Jr., Maxine Marie Stiegler Lawrence, Hilliard Francis Stiegler, Winifred Ann Stiegler Flanagan, and Harold Joseph Stiegler. She will be greatly missed by her children and their spouses, Lynn Marie Kennedy Anders (Thomas), Aida Marie Kennedy Ziemnicki (Gerald), Matthew James Kennedy IV, Eileen Mary Kennedy Saling (David), and Christian John Kennedy. She was the proud grandmother of nine: John Paul Anders (Kathy), Mary Theresa Anders Conway (Brian), Elizabeth Marie Anders Schaeperkoetter (Andrew), Matthew John Ziemnicki (Catherine), Stephanie Grace Saling Cofield (Bobby), Anna Marie Ziemnicki (Chase Porter), Sara Ann Ziemnicki, Michelle Elizabeth Saling, and David Matthew Ziemnicki (Julie Vu). Her eleven great-grandchildren were a source of much joy: Robert Joseph Conway, John Joseph Anders, Thomas Michael Conway, Michael Brian Conway, Maxwell William Anders, Marie Bernadette Schaeperkoetter, Pearce James Ziemnicki, Kennedy Grace Cofield, Charles Otto Ziemnicki, Nathan Henry Porter-Ziemnicki, and Bobby Ray Cofield Jr.

Visitation will be held from 5-8 PM on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at Earthman Hunters Creek Funeral Home (8303 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024). Rosary will be prayed at 7 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church (1801 Sage Rd, Houston, TX 77056). Interment will follow the Mass at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery (12800 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Matthew James Kennedy III and Mary Lynn Stiegler Kennedy Scholarship at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. Donations may be made directly to the scholarship online at: loyno.edu/tributegift (select designation from the dropdown menu).