Dorothy M. (Emerling) Kennedy

Dorothy M. Kennedy, age 88 of Defiance, passed away on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at Kingsbury Place in Defiance.   

She was born in Wooster, Ohio on September 30, 1937 to the late Roy and Marjorie (Shisler) Emerling. Dorothy was a 1955 graduate of Wooster High School. She worked as a Supervisor at Maumee Valley Vending Company in Defiance for 30 years until her retirement. She also enjoyed working at WalMart as a greeter for many years and loved to talk to everyone. Dorothy loved her animals, flowers and plants. She was a collector of many different things. She will be greatly missed by her family and many good friends.

Dorothy is survived by her children, Rita (Robert) Gale-Amstutz of Defiance, Edward (Mary Jo) Kennedy of Defiance, and John Kennedy of Paulding, OH. She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, Christopher Steel, Sara Goebel, Brandy Spicer, Amanda Kennedy, Sierra Loy and Robert Amstutz Jr., and several great-grandchildren, her sisters, Faye Lingle of Wooster, OH, Julia (Virgil) Brubaker of Apple Creek, OH, Ruth Shantz-Morgan of Chillicothe, OH, Betty (Charlie) Booth of Apple Creek, OH, and her brother, Charles (Sharon) Emerling of Haymarket, VA. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her former spouse, Harold Reed Kennedy, and daughter-in-law, Amy Kennedy.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 31, 2026 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Oakwood Community Church. A Celebration of Life will follow at 1:00 pm at the church with Pastor Bud Larimore officiating. Dorothy will be inurned at Sherman Cemetery.

Schaffer Funeral Home was honored to assist the family with arrangements.  

Memorials are suggested to Ft. Defiance Humane Society. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorothy M. (Emerling) Kennedy, please visit our floral store.