SPRINGFIELD – Anne M. (Sheehan) Kennedy, 88, of the East Forest Park section of Springfield and a longtime resident of the Hungry Hill section of Springfield was Called Safely Home on Saturday, September 1, 2012. She passed into eternal life at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis after a valiant battle with cancer surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving family and her wonderful caregivers. She was born in Springfield on January 14, 1924, a beloved daughter of the late Thomas E. and Bridget (Fitzgerald) Sheehan. She was raised in Springfield, graduated from the former Sacred Heart Grammar School and Sacred Heart High School, and was a lifelong resident of the city. Since 1991, Anne and her husband William summered in South Yarmouth on Cape Cod with their children and families. For 35 years Anne was employed as a telephone operator and later worked in the office as a clerk for the New England Telephone Company before retiring in 1988. She was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, a former member of the Ancient Order of Hiberniens, and the John Boyle O’Reilly Auxiliary. Anne was proud of her Irish heritage, loved Irish step dancing and the wearing of the green. She was currently a communicant of Holy Cross Church and a longtime communicant of Sacred Heart Church, both in Springfield. She was a loving woman who adored her family and showered them with her love and affection which was returned to her a thousand fold. She leaves her beloved husband and best friend, William B. Kennedy. They were married on May 5, 1951 at the former Our Lady of Hope Church in Springfield and were blessed with over 61 years of happiness together. She also leaves her five loving children, Kevin E. Kennedy and his wife, Deborah of Springfield; Susan M. Kennedy of Springfield; Anmarie Cenisio and her husband, Marco of Basel, Switzerland; Brian T. Kennedy and his wife, Judith of Longmeadow and Joan B. Rayno of Salem, NH; her eight cherished grandchildren, Sara Tedesco and her husband, Matthew, Kevin Kennedy and his wife, Aura, Melissa Kennedy, Michael Cenisio, Nicholas and Samantha Kennedy and William and Mary Rayno; her five loving great-grandchildren, Anna, Jack and Ryan Tedesco and Carolyn and Emma Kennedy; her loving brother, Edward T. Sheehan and his wife, Florence of Wilbraham; and her many dear nephews and nieces. Her funeral will be held on Saturday morning, September 8, 2012 beginning with a private family gathering at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104 (where relatives and friends are invited to attend). Her burial will follow the Mass at Saint Michael Cemetery, 1601 State Street, Springfield, MA 01109. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, September 7, 2012 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Her family has requested that in lieu of flowers memorial donations be made in her memory to either the Sacred Heart Church Renovation Fund, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104 or to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute/The Jimmy Fund, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168.