A Burley-in-Wharfedale woman who founded a nursing home has died aged 76.
Betty Kennedy established Herncliffe Nursing Home in Keighley.
She was diagnosed with terminal cancer in June and died at home, surrounded by her family, last Saturday.
She was living in Broughton Road, Skipton, but had previously lived in Keighley for more than 20 years.
She was born in Burley-in-Wharfedale and began training to be a nurse at Keighley Victoria Hospital when she was 17.
She married Paul Kennedy in June 1960, after which she was appointed sister in charge of the children’s ward at Keighley Victoria Hospital.
Her posts included a role as nursing officer, where she had the job of re-organising nursing in Keighley, Bingley, Skipton and Ilkley.
She set up Herncliffe in 1980 and retired from the NHS in 1985. She and her husband had four children.
Her son, John, is now Herncliffe’s manager. He said: “She was very caring and welcoming. She did a lot of work for vagrants in Keighley, and she also took in foster children.”
Mrs Kennedy’s funeral service takes place tomorrow at St Stephen’s Church, Skipton, at 10am, followed by interment at Waltonwrays Cemetery at 11.40am.
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