Theresa Kennedy Johnson

Theresa Kennedy Johnson, 95, passed away on July 22, 2021 at Hillsborough County Nursing Home after a period of declining health.

Theresa was born in Nashua on September 27, 1925, the daughter of Ovide Anctil and Bernadette Blais, French Canadian immigrants and textile workers. She graduated class of ‘43A from Manchester West High School and attended Elliot Hospital School of Nursing in preparation for service in the WWII US Cadet Nursing Corps. She married Donald Kennedy and to him bore her 4 children. She worked in various nursing assignments until she eventually began an 18 or so year career in the employ of Dr. John W Parfitt, Jr., a private practice osteopath in Manchester.

Theresa married Melvin Hull, a childhood friend around 1968 and enjoyed 10 years with him in Massachusetts before his passing in 1979. During this time, she was able to display her love for singing, accompanied by Mal at the keyboard and joining with other talented singers in various musical shows in the Leominster, MA area. After his death, she found new love and companionship in her marriage to Earl Johnson, Jr, with whom she was able to retire to the Sunshine State in 1982 and enjoy a life of leisure and host visiting family members seeking escape from New England winters. It was during her Florida sojourn that she expanded on her natural artistic talent for oil painting and during which she produced several beautiful scenes on canvas which she gifted to her children. After Earl’s passing in 1997, she continued to live an independent life. She was a faithful member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Beverly Hills, FL, where she also sang in the choir, served in the church food pantry, and was volunteer office worker. In 2015, because of declining health, she made the decision to return to her roots with family in NH. She resided with her daughter until April of 2021 when she became a resident of Hillsborough County Nursing Home.

Theresa leaves a son Ronald Kennedy and his wife Cynthia (Lloyd) of Raymond, NH, daughter Susan (Kennedy) Rheault and husband David of Manchester, daughter Cynthia (Kennedy) Oberg and husband David of Manchester; 9 grandchildren (Stephen, Pamela, Scott, Veronica, Timothy, Christopher, Ross, Kenneth, Richard); 14 great-grandchildren (Damien, Courtney, Dylan, Derek, Julia, Nicole, Clayton, Ty, Maleah, Nathan, Sydnee, Devon, Allyssa and Theressa); also many nieces, nephews and cherished cousins.

She was predeceased by her parents, her daughter Katherine Kennedy, her sister Rita Boisvert, and her grandson Michael Kennedy.

The family gratefully acknowledges the outstanding care given Theresa by the staff of Hillsborough County Nursing Home. We were so blessed that she received her rehab, long term and respite care there, especially from those working in the C3 unit. In addition, we thank Home Health & Hospice for the additional support provided to her & us during her last few days.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10AM on Thursday, July 29, 2021 at Ste. Marie Parish, 378 Notre Dame Ave, Manchester. Committal to follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum, 474 Goffstown Road, Manchester.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Theresa’s memory may be made to the New Hampshire Food Bank https://nhfoodbank.org/