Eileen Ruwet Kennedy

Eileen Ruwet Kennedy, 90, of Storrs, died Saturday (June 2, 2012) at the Mansfield Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation after a very short illness. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert Emmet Kennedy. Eileen was born in Torrington, CT, daughter of Louis J. Ruwet and Alice (Begey) Ruwet. After graduating from Torrington (CT) High School, she went on to obtain her nursing degree from St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in Hartford, CT. From 1943 to 1946 Eileen worked as a nurse at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington. She married Robert E. Kennedy on Jan. 12, 1946. From 1951 to 1960 she was a nurse at Windham Hospital in Willimantic, CT. Prior to her retirement in 1980, Eileen served for 20 years as the office nurse for Dr. Ralph Gilman in Storrs. From her childhood, Eileen was active in numerous community and church organizations. She had a great interest in sports, the beach, sailing, bridge and knitting. She enjoyed travel that took her to many parts of the world. Eileen dedicated her life to her family. A great joy has been sharing time and love with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived by a son, Paul Ruwet Kennedy of Lake Forest, CA; three daughters, Sharon (Kennedy) Hollay of Groton Long Point, Maureen (Kennedy) Lamontagne of Summerville, SC, and Jane (Kennedy) O'Neil of Essex, VT; three brothers, Edmund Ruwet, Joseph Ruwet and George Ruwet all of Torrington, CT; a sister, Doris (Ruwet) Sibley of Harwinton, CT; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and many nephews and nieces. Eileen was predeceased by her brother Vincent Ruwet. There are no calling hours. On Saturday June 9th, a 10:00 a.m. graveside service will be held at Storrs Cemetery, North Eagleville Rd., Storrs, immediately followed by a Memorial Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel, Storrs. Following the Mass will be a reception in the Aquinas Center just adjacent to the Chapel. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Eileen's memory may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Connecticut Chapter, P.O. Box 1748, Hartford, CT., 06144-1748 or American Heart Association, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 78851, Phoenix, AZ., 85062-8851. Arrangements through Potter Funeral Home, Willimantic. For an online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .