Ailene (Laulo) Kennedy

Ailene Laulo Kennedy

The youngest of five siblings was delivered by a mid-wife on 7/14/32 to Maude and Bob Laulo at the family homestead north of Loma, MT on the Kennelworth Road. Mom (“Ike” to her family and “Auntie Ike” to her nieces and nephews) and her sister, Marge, rode a horse to attend school in a one-room schoolhouse. The family purchased a home in Fort Benton, where Ailene graduated from high school in 1949 (not riding a horse to school this time).

Each summer during wheat harvest, Ailene helped her mom with cleaning and cooking. The grandkids from Billings, Arizona and California came to the farm in the summers where we all lived a loving, carefree, magical existence.

Ailene attended the University of Montana for a year until she met and fell in love with her sister’s husband’s brother (complicated, I know - brothers married sisters). Our Dad proposed to our Mom at the Bella Vista Supper Club on the rims. However, when it came time to pay the bill, he had forgotten his wallet at home, so Mom was held hostage until my Dad came back with the cash.

Our parents’ first home was in Chicago where Kay was born. Dad attended the Chicago Institute of Art, but Chicago wasn’t where Mom wanted to live and raise a family, so they moved back to Dad’s hometown of Billings, where they had their second child, Michelle!

Ailene retired from Prudential Insurance Company, working in the office, and then worked part-time in the Customer Service Department at Hennessy’s (Dad called it “Magic Land,” and it certainly was).

Upon retirement, Mom and Dad enjoyed dinners and dancing at the K.C. Club and Elk’s Club, spending time at the cabin outside of Columbus, going to Fort Benton each summer to visit family and attend Mom’s class reunions, trips to Alaska to visit the grand kids, a trip to Scotland and Ireland, and hosting and attending their fabulously fun monthly Gourmet Club dinners.  However, Mom’s greatest joy in life came from being a Grandma.

Mom loved kids, including all our friends, nieces and nephews. It didn’t matter who they belonged to - relatives, neighbors, strays - she loved them all. She rarely missed any of their sporting events, concerts, plays, etc., and enjoyed going to BWHS basketball and football games with neighbors, Rich and Cheryl Gilbert.

Mom also enjoyed ceramics, crossword puzzles, playing card games on the computer, knitting, crocheting, embroidery and going to coffee with the neighbors. Her passion was playing cards, especially bridge.  She was a member of several bridge clubs, and Dad once commented that Mom would be playing cards on her deathbed (she was playing Gin Rummy to the very end).

About five years ago, Mom adopted the neighbor’s cat (the neighbors graciously let her keep him because he kept coming back to her house). Blackie Chan (named by college kids) would follow her when she went on her daily walk (he was more like a dog than a cat).  When Mom’s health declined recently, we contacted the original owners/previous neighbors (Katie and Colton Kelleher), asking if they would be interested in him. They were ecstatic, and drove all the way from Shelby, MT to take back their borrowed/used cat (a story for Reader’s Digest).

Mom attended daily and weekend Mass, and prayed the rosary daily. She was beautiful, inside and out, classy, non-judgmental, always welcoming, smart, and had enough unconditional love for everyone (close to perfect). She was so fortunate to live in her own home up until the end.  She passed away peacefully in her sleep from old age on Monday, February 3, 2025, with the utmost grace and dignity, every step of the way. She was always smiling and never complained or felt sorry for herself.  Toward the end of her life, we helped her do the things she used to be able to do herself, and she graciously thanked us every time for all we did for her (Mom, you took care of us all our lives - it was our turn).

Ailene is survived by her daughter, Kay (Harold Gold and family), sons, Ryan, Rory (Brittany) and Ross (Becca and great grandchild, Reid); daughter, Michelle, and bonus daughters, Melissa (Dylan and Zach), and Alyson (Tra, Xavier, Dominic, Faith and Isaac).  She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 60 years, Mike (he’s been waiting 15 years for you, Mom), adopted son/son-in-law, Rod Hartman, bonus granddaughter, Angel, and Mom’s parents, siblings, nephews, friends and neighbors.

Mom was a people person and loved her neighbors who always came to check on her, especially Linda, Bev and Patty.

A life well-lived. We will miss our Mom immensely, including all who had the pleasure of knowing her. Until me meet again…

Funeral Mass on Tuesday, 2/11/25, at 10:00 a.m., St. Thomas Catholic Church, with a reception to follow in the church basement.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Riverstone Hospice, 123 S. 27th St., Billings, MT 59101, or the charity of your choice.