Kathleen Frances Kenney, affectionately known as Kay, died peacefully on Feb. 25, 2011 in Lynchburg, Va., with her family at her side.

Kay was born on April 10, 1922 in Dublin, Ireland to Clare (O’Connor) and Francis Pearce. She attended Holy Faith Convent School in Glasnevin, Dublin. Upon graduation Kay went to work at the Powell Press Publishing Company in Dublin as a proofreader.

In 1942, Kay moved to London, England. She enrolled at Red Hill Hospital in Surrey and was a graduate of their R.N. program. Kay then went to Montreal, Canada and began working as a surgical nurse at the Royal Edwards Hospital. She eventually moved to Brookline, and worked as a surgical nurse at the Bellevue Hospital.

Kay married Haskell Pineo in 1954. Haskell operated a family business, along with his brothers, the Brookline Moving Company. Kay and Haskell began visiting Martha’s Vineyard, and in 1955 bought a summer home in Oak Bluffs. Kay and Haskell had two children; Doreen and Carl. Haskell died in 1963.

In 1967, Kay married James (Jim) Kenney, a Boston attorney, and moved to Martha’s Vineyard year-round. For several years, Kay and Jim held an annual St. Patrick’s Day open house at their home for “all the Irish and those who wish they were.” Knitting was Kay’s passion and she particularly loved making Aran knit sweaters. Yarn could always be found in Kay’s suitcase upon returning from visiting her family in Dublin.

After Jim’s death in 1980, Kay went to work for Elder Services as a medical insurance aide. She also coordinated the Elder Services’ Meals on Wheels program. In addition, Kay was a bookkeeper for her son’s excavating business.

Kay was a past member of the Triad Club. She was a parishioner of the Good Shepherd Parish of Martha’s Vineyard.

She is survived by her daughter, Doreen Grant of Edgartown, and husband, Dean; her son, Carl Kenney of Amherst, Va., and Laura Olivieria; a step-daughter, Barbara Lange of Guilford, Conn., and husband, Paul; her grandchildren, Joshua Grant, Kate and Jason Kenney. She also leaves her sisters, Eithne O’Sullivan, Bridget Pearce, Margaret Mullinder and Marie Henly. Her sister, Clare Baillie, died on March 22 of this year. She was predeceased also by her brothers, Francis, John, Michael and Patrick Pearce. She leaves many nieces and nephews.

A memorial day will be held on Saturday, June 25 at 11 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Oak Bluffs with Fr. Michael Nagle officiating. A prior memorial mass was held at St. Francis of Assisi, Amherst, Va. Donations may be made in her memory to the Good Shepherd Parish, P.O. Box 1058, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.