Father Robert James Kenny

Father Robert James Kenny passed away peacefully of natural causes on Tuesday, March 31, 2015. Father Bob had a wide variety of loves and interests. Of course, he loved his family and friends, especially his mother and father. He also loved animals with a particular attachment to dogs and his own dog, Sarah, and truly enjoyed blessing the animals on the Feast of St. Francis. He loved movies – all kinds of movies (from the classic black & white films to the most modern release), and he had a broad collection of them. Father Bob knew all about the actors and the background stories of his favorite movies and he would have been a wonderful trivial pursuit partner! Father Bob loved the world and loved to travel. Iceland had become one of his favorite destinations. He had a deep interest in the people and cultures of various countries.

Father Bob’s greatest love was God and his Catholic faith. He loved to share his faith and God’s love with everyone from little preschoolers to elderly parishioners on their deathbed. Father Bob was ordained on June 6, 2003 at St. James Cathedral in Seattle, Washington. He was assigned as Parochial Vicar in St. Michael’s Church in Olympia in 2003. Then in 2005, he was named Priest Administrator in Kelso and Castle Rock. In 2009, he was assigned in Seattle to the cluster parishes of St. Edward. St. George and St. Paul. We were blessed to have him almost 6 of his 12 years as a priest. We are grateful to his mother and father for sharing Father Bob with us and we pray for them in their time of sorrow. The greatest consolation to all of us is that we know that right this minute Father Bob is in heaven praying for all of us. He was truly a blessing in all of our lives and we will miss his gentle presence.
Father Robert James Kenny is survived by his mom Trudy and dad Ed; brother Tom (Darlene); sister Paula Anderson (Kevin); brother Marty Vrana (Shirlei); aunts and uncles; nieces and nephews; and, his beloved dog Sarah and his five cats.
Viewing will be held Thursday, April 9, 2015, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at Columbia Funeral Home, Seattle. Vigil Service and recitation of the Rosary will be Thursday, April 9 at 7:00pm at St. Edward Parish, Seattle. Funeral Mass will be held Friday, April 10 at 10:30am at St. Edward Parish. A reception at St. Edward Parish will follow Mass. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Seattle.
Donations in Father Bob’s memory can be made to the Humane Society of Cowlitz County http://www.cowlitzhumane.com and Catholic Community Services http://www.ccsww.org.