Darlene Gayle Duffy Kennicott was born on November 3, 1934 in Nampa, ID to Warren and Viola Duffy. She passed away December 20, 2022 in Poulsbo, WA at the age of 88 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 20 at 2:00pm at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church on Bainbridge Island. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider a contribution to Martha & Mary Kids in Poulsbo.
Darlene’s early years were spent in the Nampa area and she graduated from Nampa Senior High School in 1952. She then graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Elementary Education. While at the University, she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and Editor of the college yearbook. She went on to complete her fifth year at the University of Washington.
Anyone who knew Darlene knew that her gift to the world was her ability to teach and care for children. Her teaching career took her to Las Vegas, NV, Boise, ID, Bellevue, WA and finally to Bainbridge Island, WA. She taught Kindergarten, First and Second grades over the course of 13 years at which point she left the classroom to start an in-home day care where she spent the next 38 years. Children gravitated to her kind, gentle and nurturing style. Her teaching background allowed her to enrich the children’s academic skills and provided a structured, safe place to develop their social-emotional skills needed as they ventured off to school. Many of her day care families became longtime friends.
Her love for education continued as an adult where she spent over 40 years as an active member of the PEO Sisterhood, an international philanthropic education organization that provides scholarships to deserving women pursuing a college education. She served her chapter several times over the years holding various office positions. The friendships she made through PEO were lifelong.
Loves of Darlene’s life were her family, friends and the hundreds of children who passed through her care. She cherished all her relationships, near and far.
Darlene is survived by her husband, Bob Kennicott, of Bainbridge Island; her daughters, Deanna (Tom) Kigar and Brenda Elitzin, of Sacramento, CA; son, Brian Kennicott, of Raleigh, NC; grandchildren Hillary and Chris Kigar; Christian, Jessica and Savannah Kennicott and Patrick Elitzin; sister Deanna (Tom) Schmidt of Havelock, NC, sister-in-law Dorothy Martinez of Mountainview, CA and 25 nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews across the country.
If you are able to join us May 20 to celebrate our dear Darlene’s life, we ask that you please RSVP to bkelitzin@yahoo.com.
