Martha Kennedy

"You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child" Dr. Seuss

Martha Elizabeth Kennedy (McLeod), 86, died peacefully in her sleep on December 20, 2025. Born September 19, 1939, in Hamilton, Martha is survived by her children Shona and David, and preceded in death by her son, Scott. She will be missed by her children, grandchildren, and many friends.

Martha passed away in Toronto, having moved recently from North Bay, her home of over 50 years. While she deeply missed her many friends and community in North Bay, she was happy to spend more time with grandchildren, renewing friendships with those in the Toronto area, and making new ones at the Humber Heights retirement community.

Martha started her career as a teacher in Hamilton and Burlington and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from McMaster University. After moving to North Bay and working as a stay at home mom for a number of years, she returned to teaching and spent years teaching junior kindergarten at M.T. Davidson Public School in Callander. She loved meeting and reconnecting with her students as adults in the community.

Martha’s deep connection to North Bay is seen in her years of volunteerism in the area. As an active member of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW), she was a founder for a Children's Museum, a reviewer of national fellowships and bursary submissions, as well as an executive board member. She held the role of Chair of the Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTO) Nipissing chapter, and over the years she volunteered in a variety of roles in many organizations, including the North Bay Symphony, Big Sisters, the North Bay Heritage Carousel and Railway, the Joy Band, the Interlink Choir, and Gateway Theatre.

An avid reader, Martha was a member of many book clubs over the years, and anyone who met her ended up in a discussion about books, the Blue Jays, or book recommendations (or all three). In her retirement, she was a founding member of "Books by the Bay", bringing her love of reading and hearing authors to the communities of Callander and North Bay.

Martha described herself as a mother, grandmother, reader, teacher, Blue Jay fan, writer, editor, life long learner, listener, musician, choir member, band member, volunteer, storyteller, and friend. Martha could always find the silver lining in any situation.

Martha will be remembered at a private family gathering and she wanted to end her obituary with these words: ‘It’s the people you meet along the way who make life worth the journey. Call someone you haven’t spoken to in awhile and have a chat.’