Sunday's Obituary - Gabriel Kennedy

The Standard Speaker, 30JAN1971, pg 1

I'm always trying to firm up my lateral lines. It can help in so many ways. If you're stuck on a direct line ancestor, but you gather information on that person's brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, etc you might find information in documents about them that could also pertain to your ancestor. Even if your ancestor isn't specifically mentioned knowing more about that lateral line can help you confirm or reject a document you find on your ancestor later. After all if you know the members of your ancestor's family and then find a document that has completely different names you'll know that it's not right and to keep looking.

This obituary doesn't yield an immediate results for my direct line, but it's still a good obituary and you never know what the future brings. Maybe it will help someone else and they'll know something about our joint line I don't. I wonder why Gabe died so suddenly. The Pennsylvania Death Certificates aren't online for 1971 so I won't know for awhile. He was 65 when he died. Sure, so people will say that's a good age. As I get older though it starts to feel like 65 is too young to pass. Of course I'm looking at it from today where our average life expectancy is a bit higher than that.

“Gabriel J. Kennedy, Former Cafe Owner, Dies Unexpectedly

Gabriel J. ‘Gabe’ Kennedy, one of the area’s best known bar and restaurant owners, died unexpectedly at 10:30 o’clock last night in his home at 356 Thirlwell Ave.

The prominent businessman, who retired in 1970 after operating Gabe’s Cafe on the Heights for more than 35 years, was born in Tresckow, a son of the late Anthony and Fannie Cortez Kennedy, and spent his entire life in Hazleton.

‘Gabe’ established an outstanding reputation as a businessman and humorist and was noted for his generosity to the needy.

He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Hazleton Council No. 442, and the Heights Fire Co.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary, in 1930; a brother, Dr. V. James Kennedy, in 1968, and another brother, Joseph, in 1969.

Surviving are his wife, the former Mary Turnbach; one daughter, Mrs. Joseph (Joan) Undeck, Wheaton, Md.; a grandson, Joseph, and the following brothers: Dr. Frank Kennedy, D.D.S.; Charles T., Anthong and John, all of this city.

The Standard Speaker,
30JAN1971, pg 2

The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday from the Turnbach Funeral Home.

A high mass of requiem will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. in Holy Rosary Church. Interment will be in St. Gabriel’s Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.

A para liturgical service will be held at 8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.”

Gabriel was married to Mary Turnbach who was my first cousin twice removed. Rest in peace, Gabe.