Our mom, Frances Kenefick, passed away at the age of 92. She was a brave woman that had fought and survived adversity and illness throughout her life, but now finally has attained peace. She was born in Utica, NY on August 31, 1919. She was the eldest daughter of Robert and Frances (Servatius) Evans. She married our dad, William Kenefick in 1939 and they spent 66 years together before he died on April 19th, 2006. Mom graduated from Utica Free Academy. She worked for many years at Utica College. She was involved with many volunteer activities, especially with Historic St. John's. She and our father were the recipients of the Mother Lavender Award for their volunteering efforts. Mom enjoyed many years of camping and canoeing in the Old Forge area. Mom was a trail blazer. While never calling herself a feminist, she challenged her role as a woman and became a skilled carpenter, botanist, seamstress, artist and outdoorswoman. An artist from a very early age, her paintings especially her watercolors, were hung in many local shows. She was an expert seamstress, making most of her children's clothing and continued to sew throughout her lifetime. She was an accomplished quilt maker. For many years, she made quilt squares for the Great Camp Sagamore. These squares were incorporated into a whole quilt which was then raffled to help fund the great camp. Mom was a knitter, and almost everyone in the family has a pair of knitted mittens or a sweater crafted by her. Mom loved her plants and garden, and taught us from an early age the flowers, plants and birds of New York State. Inside her house, she had plants in every room. Outside, her gardens went around all sides of her house and her yard. Her perfectionism showed in all that she touched, and she took great joy and care in taking care of her home and making sure that everything was in perfect working order and everything had its place. Most of all, Mom, had an incredible mind. Always sharp, she was a consummate NY Times crossword puzzle aficionado, and she marveled people with her stories, and her wit. Never forgetting a name, even to the end. Mom leaves her four children, Dr. Linda and her husband, Michael Paciello, Christine (Tina) Barr, William Kenefick, Jr. and his wife, Susannah, and Lisa Shaw, as well as her former daughter-in-law, Janice Phillips. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was affectionately called "Mimi". These are Michael Paciello and his wife, Susan and their children, Alyssa and Christopher; Krista and her husband, Jason Jabcuga and her children, Amy and Alexandra Plenn; Brenda and her husband, Greg Lino and her children, Joshua and Mindy Baptiste, David Harvey and his wife, Heather and his children, David, Sara, Elliott, and Mason; Melissa and her husband, Robert Rose and their children, Mitchell, Benjamin and Jesse; Hope and her husband, Michael Camp and their daughter Amyira, Heather and her daughters, Erin and Emma, Heidi Kenefick; Hannah Kenefick; and Maghen Shaw. She also leaves two brothers, Richard and John (Jackie). She was predeceased by her brothers, Bob, Jimmy, Tommy, George and a sister Betty as well as son-in-laws, John Terry Shaw and Charles Barr. Mom's funeral will be held on Wednesday November 2, 2011 at 10:30 at Historic Old St. John's Church, Utica. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Whitesboro. Calling hours at the Heintz Funeral Home, 1517 Whitesboro St. Utica are Wednesday morning from 9 - 10. In lieu of flowers those so wishing may make donations to a charity of their choice in Mom's memory. We would like to give special thanks to the staff of St. Luke's Home, especially those on Barton East, Debbie, Jennifer and Jackie and others. They loved mom and gave her very special care.