Crime & Safety

Road Closures, Parking Bans in Place for FF Kennedy Funeral in West Roxbury

Services for Firefighter Mike Kennedy will be held Wednesday and Thursday in West Roxbury.

Boston officials have issued road closures and parking bans along Centre Street in West Roxbury for the upcoming wake and funeral of Boston Firefighter Mike Kennedy, who died in the line of duty last week.

Kennedy, 33, was killed alongside Boston Fire Lt. Ed Walsh, whose memorial service was held Tuesday in Watertown. They died fighting a huge blaze on Beacon Street.

Kennedy’s wake will be held Wednesday at the P.E. Murray Funeral Home, located at 2000 Centre St., from 2:30 to 8 p.m. His funeral will be held the following day at the Church of the Holy Name, located at 1689 Centre St. in West Roxbury, at 11 a.m.

Find out what's happening in West Roxburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The following closures and restrictions are planned over the next two days, according to Christopher Rusk of Boston Mayor Martin Walsh's Office of Neighborhood Services:

Wednesday, April 2
"No stopping" signs will be posted on both sides of Centre Street from St. Theresa's Avenue to Mt. Vernon Street from 12 to 9 p.m.

Find out what's happening in West Roxburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Thursday, April 3
Centre Street will be closed to through traffic from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. from St. Theresa's Avenue to Montclair Avenue with parking restrictions. 

Kennedy lived in Hyde Park and was a native of West Roxbury and Roslindale. He was a six-veteran of the Boston Fire Department and was one of the first responders in last year's Boston Marathon bombings. He served as a Marine and was involved in several community service initiatives, including being a Big Brother to a Milton teenager.

Below is the full obituary for Firefighter Mike Kennedy:

Michael Ryan Kennedy (BFD Ladder 15), died from injuries sustained in the line of duty fighting a 9 Alarm Fire, with Engine 33, in Boston’s Back Bay, March 26, 2014. Born in Boston on October 11, 1980. Age 33. Served honorably for 6 1/2 years in the U.S. Marine Corps., earning the rank of Sgt., Combat Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Beloved son of Paul Kennedy of Holbrook and Kathy Crosby-Bell and her husband William Bell of Cohasset. Devoted grandson of Christine Crosby of Plymouth and the late Robert Crosby, and Michael and Mary Ellen Kennedy. Survived by the love of his life, Sarah Wessmann of Dorchester.

Michael was nephew and godson to Maureen Kennedy Donovan and Jim Donovan. He was the beloved cousin and positive influence on the Kennedy cousins, J'aime Kennedy Donovan, Davin Kennedy and the late Brendan Kennedy.

Step-brother of Matthew D’Elia, Douglas Bell, Janice Fry, Amy Laliberte, Jeff Bell, Christopher Bell, Melinda, Eliana, and Tomas Crosby-Bell.

Michael was a Big Brother to Alex Beauzile through the Big Brother Program. Also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Michael was appointed to the Boston Fire Dept. Nov. 5, 2007 and formerly worked on Ladder 2, East Boston. Member of the American Infidels Veterans Motorcycle Club. He worked as a fundraiser for Wounded Warriors and for the Boston Firefighters Burn Foundation, and was a certified cross fit trainer. Attended Johnson & Wales Culinary Institute and used these talents to feed brother firefighters.

Visiting hours will be held in the P.E. Murray-F.J Higgins, George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home 2000 Centre St., WEST ROXBURY Wednesday from 4-8 pm. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Funeral Mass will be held in Holy Name Church 1689 Centre St., West Roxbury, Thursday at 11 am. Interment with Military Honors will follow at the Boston Firefighter’s Memorial Lot in Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Michael's memory to: 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts
75 Federal St.
Boston MA 02110 
www.bbbsmb.org

The Wounded Warrior Project
150 Cambridge Park Dr., Suite 202
Cambridge MA 02140 
www.woundedwarriorproject.org

Boston Firefighters Burn Foundation
55 Hallett St.
Dorchester, MA 02124 
617-839-4172 (Dennis Costin)
617-448-3713 (Phil Skrabut) 
www.bostonfirefightersburnfoundation.com/donations.html


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