Widower honors late wife by making 100 plaques for her hospital caregivers

73-year-old Allen Kennedy has hand-crafted dozens of personalized wooden plaques for Ascension Saint Thomas caregivers. Though each plaque takes the Kentucky widower hours of time with his scroll saw, a tool designed for the creation of intricate wood-working patterns, Allen sees this time commitment as a uniquely meaningful way to honor his wife’s memory. Allen and Lois (his late wife) celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown in room 5312 just 2 months before Lois died of cancer in December 2018. She wanted to thank her caregivers in a tangible way and, knowing Allen’s wood-working talent, she asked if he would create something special for each of her caregivers. So far, Allen has delivered about 75 plaques to Ascension Saint Thomas facilities. He says he has about 25 left to make.

“I am not a patient man but, when I’m in my woodshop, I have the patience of Job,” jokes Allen. He describes Lois as “the most tender-hearted person I ever knew.” The couple became “boyfriend and girlfriend” in their 1st grade classroom in Hawesville, Kentucky, and Allen still remembers riding the ferris wheel at the county fair with Lois when they were preteens. Allen and Lois spent their entire lives devoted to one another. Allen’s love for Lois is especially evident when he brags about how she worked her way up from a secretarial position at a Kentucky bank to ultimately become an executive vice president and a member of the Board of Directors. Lois was very devoted to her career and she never completely retired. “She was still making loans and taking work calls from her hospital bed,” recalls Allen, who is now retired from his career in human resources. The couple has two adult children.

“I promised Lois before she died that I will honor her for the rest of my life,” says Allen. He feels that the woodworking project has given him a new purpose as he navigates life without his beloved Lois. Because Lois spent time at both Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown and West as her cancer spread throughout her body, Allen has gotten to know many caregivers on both campuses. He is especially complimentary of Alpa Nick, the oncologist who supported and steered the Kennedy family through an incredibly difficult time as Lois spent the last few months of her life dealing with complications of the spread of her cancer. He also recognizes so many others who came to feel like extensions of their family. “These gals and guys don’t have a job, they have a calling,” says Allen, adding: “God puts certain people in your path of life to leave an impression on you and I am so grateful for the Ascension Saint Thomas associates who did just that.”