Sylvia Anne Kennedy

Sylvia Kennedy (70) passed away at her home on Apr 9, 2024. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, Apr 25, 2024 at 12:30 p.m. at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery (34024 Veterans Memorial Dr, Adel, IA 50003). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hope Center for Women and Children (https://www.hopeiowa.org/donatenow/).

Sylvia Anne Colburn was born to Donald and Harriett (Herman) Colburn on January 9, 1954, in Canadaigua, New York. She was raised and educated in the area, graduating from Red Jacket High School with the class of 1972. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at State University of New York, Brockport, NY in 1976. Sylvia found a devotion to social work and worked as a supervisor for Child Protective Services in upstate New York. After marriage and a cross-country relocation, she then supervised at the Battered Women's Shelter in San Diego, CA.

After being heavily involved in her local United Methodist Church in Chula Vista, CA, Sylvia was called into ministry and pursued higher education at Claremont School of Theology in San Fernando, California, receiving her Masters of Divinity in 1998. Reverend Kennedy served as a pastor within the United Methodist Church, Iowa Conference, in multiple towns in Iowa between 1998 and 2015, spreading God’s love and the gospel to her parishioners.

On June 5, 1982, Sylvia and Bill J. Kennedy Jr. were united in marriage in Byron, New York, surrounded by friends and family. Sylvia and Bill shared 42 years together, many milestones, and two daughters: Kari Anne Kennedy and Sarah Alena Kennedy. She lived her life in upstate New York, southern California, and Iowa.

Sylvia’s greatest relationship was with our creator God, and her greatest passion was sharing the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with others. Sylvia was an outgoing woman and treated everyone like family. She enjoyed a variety of hobbies: sewing, cross-stitch, and gardening. She also enjoyed baking and sharing baked goods with friends, family, and neighbors. She adored the splendor of Yosemite National Park, by far her favorite place to vacation with her family. In her retirement, you could find her any morning watching true crime or HGTV with her toy poodle, Maisy, by her side and a cup of amaretto coffee.

Sylvia is preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Harriett; siblings, Richard Colburn, Keith Colburn, Donald Allen Colburn, Jon Colburn, and Matthew Colburn.

Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband, Bill; children, Kari and Sarah; siblings Mark Colburn (Lynn Colburn), Sheila (Colburn) Personale (Michael Personale), Joe Colburn (Marcia Colburn), Sue Colburn, Janet Colburn, and Ginny Broderick.