Most people who hear the name Meri Kennedy associate it with the Cranston Herald. Some might remember her from their school days in Cranston. Others might have worked with her when she was Executive Director of the Cranston Chamber of Commerce. Then there’s her involvement in the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation, and of course her love and dedication to Defenders of Animals. And, a myriad of other associations, organizations and people whose lives Meri touched without her ever meeting them.

Meri was a true fighter. From her survival of sexual abuse as a child, to battling and beating breast cancer, she was an amazing woman of strength. While the chips were piled against her, Meri never lost her positive vibe, her sense of humor nor her ability to find the good and positive in every day.

Whatever your connection was to Meri, when she finally lost her gallant battle against gastroparesis on Sept. 1, 2022, your world was changed.

There would be no more good morning posts on Facebook, no more jokes about her urgent need for coffee (specifically Dunkin iced with extra cream and extra sugar), pictures of her beloved Hope puppy, and of course the trials and tribulations of keeping her safe from herself.

Meri’s loves of her life were “her” Steve, her grandchildren, her daughter and her husband, her sister in Virginia and her brother, and all her extended friends whom she considered family members.

On Oct. 5, almost 100 people gathered in the Rolfe Supper Club inside the Historic Park Theatre and Event Center to share memories and tell stories.

Hosted by Meri’s longtime boss and friend, John Howell (publisher of Cranston Herald, Warwick Beacon and Johnston Sunrise), several speakers told of how Meri changed and impacted their lives; only for the better.

Meri knew her time was coming to an end around the start of Spring 2022. She reached out to dear friend, Joanne Lurgio to sing the classic song “Sounds of Silence.” The song was very close to Meri, and she found great comfort in the lyrics.

Elizabeth Seal, who was Meri’s first editor at the Herald and longtime friend, spoke of the closeness they shared and even brought an iced coffee to cheer Meri with. Seal talked about Meri’s quest for good, happy stories. Things that shined positivity on Cranston.

Seal also talked about Meri’s propensity to be accident prone. She told the stories of Meri falling out of bed and breaking both her feet. How Meri fell into an open grave while covering a story, and how one time while waxing her legs, she somehow managed to glue them together.

Former Mayor Allan Fung shared a few stories about how Meri was a friend to him from his very first campaign.

She was supportive and a good friend to him. Fung also told the classic tale of how Meri convinced him to jump into the Budlong pool on opening day, clothes and all back in 2009.

Mayor Ken Hopkins reinforced all the positivity and good news that Meri was famous for. He promised the city would carry on doing good things in her memory.

Elizabeth Popiel, Meri’s “sister in-law” told the story of how she would always ask Meri to come to New York City to celebrate her birthday which was New Year’s Day.

“I told her we would go to Times Square, watch the ball drop, see all the confetti get shot out of the canyons, etc. But, Meri kept saying ‘next year, next year, when I am feeling better’,” Elizabeth said.

To honor Meri and to help Meri celebrate this year, Elizabeth had bags of confetti made up with tags on them that said ‘Meri New Year.’ She also is writing that salutation on over 8,000 pieces of confetti that will be shot out of the canyons on New Year’s Eve.

Lurgio also sang a special song she wrote for the 2012 Gloria Gemma 5k race.

“Meri told me, once she heard this song, it became her personal theme. She would sing it every single day,” Lurgio said.

The song is called “Won’t Ever Quit” and it speaks to the strength and perseverance of cancer patients, survivors and warriors and their support.

Lurgio had left slips of paper on each table with words of the chorus, and had the entire audience sing along with her.

“For our sisters, our mothers, our daughters, our lovers

For those we will never forget

In the light of this love I don’t walk alone

And for this, I won’t ever quit.”

The evening ended, with Meri’s Steve thanking everyone for coming; sharing his thoughts on their life together, and all the positivity Meri brought into his life.