Bridget Harkin (nee Kennedy) left this world after 95 years on January 17, 2023. She was one of eleven children of Patrick and Johanna (Grace) Kennedy born in Kilbride, Glenmore, County Kilkenny, Ireland. Her early education was in Glenmore. She left home at thirteen to work at her aunt and uncle’s store in Waterford. She worked there until she emigrated to Newark, NJ when she was 21. Bridget was sponsored by her Uncle Ed Kennedy and his wife Josie Kennedy. 

     Bridget met the love of her life, James Harkin, at Hotel Benzell in Newark, and married her dancing partner on October 6, 1951. Over the next twelve years they welcomed five daughters: Mary Bridget (Maureen), JoAnn, Kathleen, Margaret (Maggie) and Alice. Bridget worked at Bambergers and later Macy’s Department Store in Newark.  After her retirement, Bridget and James spent many happy years at Greenbriar I in Brick, NJ. She enjoyed many trips “Home” to visit both her and her husband’s family in Kilkenny and Donegal.

     Bridget was predeceased by her husband James, her parents, and brothers Martin, Richard, Edward, James and John and sister Margaret. Bridget is survived by sisters Mary Murphy, Johanna Lynch and Alice O’Connor and brother Patrick Kennedy. She leaves her daughters and their families: Maureen Harkin, Richard Yee and sons Richard and Patrick and daughter Deirdre Yee; JoAnn and Vincent Perna and daughter Tracey Gialanella: Kathleen Harkin, Richard Harris and daughter Cassidy Sheridan; Margaret Pisco and daughter Jamie Adams and son Frank Pisco, and everyone’s favorite Aunt Alice Harkin. Bridget has four great grandchildren: Lena Gialanella, Thomas Adams, Liadan and Zoey Carr. Bridget had a special bond with great granddaughter Lena who frequently visited her “GiGi.”

     Bridget spent her final years living at Care One Assisted Living in Parsippany where she was beloved by the staff. She will be remembered for her sense of humor, her wry wit, and love of card games and dancing. She was a stickler for the rules, especially at Rummikub. She had a fabulous sense of style and of course the reddest hair on the planet.

Visitation will be on Sunday from 2:00pm to 6:00pm at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy 35 at New Bedford Rd., Wall, NJ 07719. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Monday, January 23, 2023 at 11:00am at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Church of the Ascension, 501 Brinley Ave., Bradley Beach, NJ 07720. Interment will be in St. Mary of the Lake Cemetery, Lakewood, NJ 08701.

In lieu of flowers consider a donation to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund, 34 Washington St., Suite 30, Wellesley, Massachusetts 02481-1903