Cass Phillips (Kennedy)
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

Catherine Kennedy was born on 20 November 1924.1 
She married John Lawrence Phillips, son of Thomas James Phillips and Irene Gladys 'Sis' McDonald, on 23 January 1952 in Shepparton, Victoria.2 
She died on 2 October 2021 in Shepparton, Victoria, at age 96.3 

Family

John Lawrence Phillips b. 28 Mar 1923, d. 28 Mar 2014
Children
ChartsCampbell, John, descendant chart
McDonald, Archibald, descendant chart
O'Loughlin, Michael, descendant chart
Phillips, James, descendant chart
Steer, Edward, descendant chart

Story

Jack and Cass met through the friendship of their fathers, Tom Phillips and Dr 'Dick' Kennedy. Cass, a trained nurse, had returned to Shepparton from Melbourne to help her father in his busy practice. The friendship matured slowly and it was about three years before they married.4
 
Marriage and Family
Catherine Kennedy and John Lawrence Phillips were married at St Brendan's church in Shepparton on 23 January 1952. They had four children.2
Jack & Cass (Catherine Kennedy) Phillips, Jan 1952
Image: Catherine Wayman
Jack & Cass (Catherine Kennedy) Phillips, Jan 1952
Image: Catherine Wayman
Cass, John, Tom, Catherine, Brendan & Jack Phillips
Image: Catherine Wayman
.. Wedding Bells ..
Phillips - Kennedy
On Wednesday morning in St Brendan's Church the marriage of Catherine, third daughter of Dr JA Kennedy, of Maude Street, and the late Mrs Kennedy and John Lawrence, eldest son of Mr and Mrs TJ Phillips, of the Australia Hotel, was celebrated with Nuptial Mass.

The Rev Dean Murphy officiated.

The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a classical gown of French otterman silk.

The fitted bodice featured a tiny standup collar and long lily point sleeves.

Pearl buttons extended to the waistline and also trimmed the sleeves. The fully flared skirt extended into an oval train.

Her finger tip cut tulle veil was held in place by a circlet of pearl orange blossom.

She carried an ivory prayer book and a trail of cream water lilies.

The bride’s sister, Miss Maureen Kennedy, and friends, Misses Eileen O'Connor and Marie Strickland, attended her as bridesmaids.

They were frocked alike in ombre blue and ivory chiffon over white organza. The strapless bodices were pleated over the bust line and were allied to bouffant skirts.

They added simply made matching jackets, matching curvettes with pale blue ostrich feathers, and white nylon wrist length gloves.

Each wore a single string of pearls, gift of the groom, and carried a trail of pale pink waterlilies.

Mr Jim O’Connor, friend of the groom, was best man. The groomsmen were Mr Adrian Kennedy. brother of the bride, and Mr Don Phillips, brother of the groom.

Mrs O Corrigan, sister of the bride, received the guests at the Grosvenor. She was assisted by Mrs Phillips.

Leaving on their touring honeymoon, the bride wore a beige crepe suit. She added a white straw cloche hat with black veiling, and black accessories.

They will live in Shepparton.5
 
Family Life
When Jack and Cass married they lived for several years at Jack's parents' place at 77 Orr St, Shepparton.

By 1965 they were at 181 Knight St, and this is where the four children spent much of their childhood.6,7
 
Retirement to Rye
After the family left the hotel Jack retired, and he and Cass moved to a place in Dundas St in Rye.

For many years they delivered Meals on Wheels in the local community.

Among other things, Jack played a lot of golf. He was playing off a handicap of 19 when he was 80 years old.

Jack also enjoyed horse racing. He watched them on TV and always bet on the 'daily double', with two units on horses 2 and 2.

In 2005, Jack and Cass moved to a smaller place in Mornington.4
 
Return to Shepparton and Twilight Years
In 2007 Jack suffered an aneurysm. He survived thanks to quick thinking by Cass and the fortune of having a specialist vascular surgeon rostered on that Saturday afternoon at nearby Frankston hospital. The surgeon later told the family that only one in a thousand survive what Jack had.

After Jack's recovery, he and Cass moved back to Shepparton where they could spend time with family and old friends, and where daughter Catherine could check on them.4
Jack & Cass Phillips & their family, Mar 2013
Image: Trevor Phillips
Jack died in March 2014.

When Cass developed dementia, daughter Catherine made sure she was well cared for.8,9
 
Catherine Phillips died in Shepparton on 2 October 2021, aged 96.3
 

Citations

  1. [S102] Jack Phillips, personal communication, (actually Cass).
  2. [S16] Catherine Wayman, personal communication, 29 October 1995.
  3. [S16] Catherine Wayman, personal communication, 2 October 2021.
  4. [S559] Jack Phillips Eulogy, document, 2 April 2014.
  5. [S201] 'Wedding Bells: Phillips - Kennedy', Shepparton Advertiser, 1914-1953, newspaper, Thomas Pettit and William Callender, 25 January 1952, p. 7, viewed 8 December 2021, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/172849116
  6. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Murray, subdivision of Shepparton, 1954.
  7. [S400] 'TJ Phillips & Sons', 1955-1981, company documents, document no. 910104195.
  8. [S126] Peter Phillips, personal knowledge or recollection.
  9. [S16] Catherine Wayman, personal communication, 28 March 2014.