Biography

Dorothy Marie Kennedy (nee Doan) (1927-2014), was born in Hollister, California, USA, and known as ‘Tiny’ from a young age.  She married in 1946 in the Hollister Methodist Church and had three children – Bob, Kathy (Mumford), and Tom.  Throughout her adult life until coming to Australia in 1984, she lived in Hollister California.  She was very active in the Methodist Church becoming a lay reader and preacher.  She was also very active in a country youth development program called 4-H; was a test cook for Farm Journal, and wrote articles for the local newspaper on a variety of community events and activities.  Tiny worked as a sales clerk, waitress and as a medical technician.  In her later years in Hollister, she was also very involved in the local Historical Society, dressing up to provide living history at events and in the neighbouring historical town of San Juan Bautista with its Spanish Mission Church, serving mass daily since 1797.

Tiny came to Australia with her daughter’s family in 1984 and became an Australian citizen in 1995.  She was welcomed into St John’s Church and felt quite at home with its organ played by Bill Pierce and the beautiful stained glass windows – reminiscent of the Hollister Methodist Church.

In addition to many St John’s activities, Tiny was a founding member of the Launceston Patchworkers and Quilters, a founding member of the Tasmanian Quilting Guild, and member of the Launceston Embroiderer’s Guild.

Tiny died in 2014, and in her memory, her Australian family and friends gave financial memorials to City Mission, Launceston, and to the St John’s Church Youth Ministries. 

The following tribute was presented by Judith Moxon, former Warden and member of St John’s Church, at Tiny’s Celebration of Life on Sunday, 18^th  May 2014, St John’s Church, Launceston;

For thirty years, Tiny called St John’s her spiritual home.  It didn’t take long after her arrival to become involved in the life of the parish and to foster relationships, particularly with women and children.  She was a true servant of God using the talents He had given her, not because she had to, but because she loved Jesus.

Tiny joined Mother’s Union participating fully in all their activities. She led the prayer time; each month focusing on MU ladies from a different country.

As you know Tiny was hard of hearing and wore aids.  She always sat at the front so she could hear – in fact we used her as a sound check.  If Tiny could hear, the volume was correct.

She volunteered to assist when the Parish ran an outreach programme to children during the school holidays – Kids Love Our Mission Program – the KLOMP Club. On seeing her enjoyment with working on the programme, I asked her if she would like to be the GFS Granny.  She helped with the cooking and the sewing and enjoyed interacting with the girls.  Tiny even came on camps:  on the first occasion I explained why I had put her in a room as far away as possible from the girls who would not settle down and had a tendency to screech and giggle which made sleeping a little difficult!  I said goodnight to her and hoped she would sleep well.  Her reply – Oh, don’t worry about me, I just take out my “ears” and fall asleep – which she did – loudly!  Because she also snored – Loudly!!  When the GFS branch closed, she continued in fellowship with the GFS Townsend Group.

Tiny was a member of CMS and supported missionaries both prayerfully and financially.  She attended Summerview (the annual CMS “summer school”) and came to hear missionaries when they were speaking here.  On hearing news of her death, Steve and Narelle Etherington, long time missionaries who corresponded with Tiny, said “She was a lovely lady who greatly encouraged us.”

Tiny served on the Executive of the Anglican Women’s Fellowship, was Patron for many years and attended Fellowship days and the Annual Conference as often as she could.  On being invited to be the Patron she asked:  What do I have to do?  The reply – welcome people, talk to them and say Grace whenever we eat – she said, “Oh I can do that!”  She didn’t leave the Conference or Fellowship day without speaking to every lady present to encourage them and affirm them.  And she managed to pray a different grace whenever she was asked.

Tiny also attended Women’s Breakfast and the Craft Group until it closed, and folded the weekly Bulletin until she moved to Ainsley.  Bible study and prayer played a most important role in her life.  She attended many different groups throughout the years and was very happy to host a group at her home.

Much has been said about Tiny’s brownies, but she could cook other things. Her coffee scrolls were very good and she cooked a mean lasagne.  She and I travelled to many places with the smell of things she had just taken from the oven permeating the car.  This was one way she used her gift of hospitality – she cooked and supplied meals whenever there was a need.

During the week, when speaking to various people about Tiny, the word most used was ‘encouraging”.  I was also reminded that a favourite verse of Tiny’s was from Philippians;  “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!”  That just about sums up Tiny, doesn’t it.  A person who encouraged and one who rejoiced in her Saviour.

We will miss her.”

We have a small number of photos of Tiny’s banners and quilts. See linked gallery. Her daughter, Kathy Mumford, noted that Tiny left a set of designs for 7 Days of Creation banners for the creche side of the narthex in St. John’s. These had been discussed with then rector Bishop Ross Nicholson, but had not progressed past the fabric gathering stage. Further afield, she created a quilt for St Oswald's for the Silverdome Diocesan celebrations and likely other church quilts, along with an untold number of baby quilts for curates and members of the church and her community of friends, as well as quilts for City Mission for their annual Winter Blanket Appeals. These were highly sought after by the staff at the time, to pass on to those in great distress.

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