Penelope "Penny" Kidd

Penelope (Penny) Kidd, 70, of Port Charlotte, Florida, formerly of Edison, New Jersey, passed away at home on Wednesday, July 24, 2013. She was the daughter of John and Margaret (nee Matta) Kinsey, born February 15, 1943 in Milltown, N.J. She married her husband, Paul, March 11, 1961 in Nutley, N.J.; and they lived in various places in NJ and around the country in their 52 years of marriage, including Pittsburgh, PA., Maryland-DC area, Beckley, West Virginia, Temple, Texas, and Huntington, West Virginia. While in Huntington, Penny attended Marshall, University, and Volunteered in the Veterans Hospital Library. Penny worked as a school crossing guard for 16 years in Edison until retiring to Florida in 2002. She was a creative person in arts and crafts, including knitting, crocheting, macram, making Cabbage patch dolls for her girls and building Star Wars model scenes for her boys. She was an avid reader and loved all kinds of music, singing "acapella" in the Harmony, Inc. group of Florida. She was a Girl Scout Leader and Director for Raritan Valley Summer Travel Camp for several years in Edison and earlier was Cub Scout Den Mother. Penny loved all animals, taking in strays at times, and will be missed by our dog Dutchess. She was also known and respected as an excellent creative cook and baker of all types of American and various ethnic group dishes, including traditional Irish and Hungarian foods. Her Chicken Paprikash, Christmas Kifli and Kolatch, and Irish soda bread were outstanding! Most of all Penny will be remembered as a loving, caring wife and mother, who supported her family in all that she did. She was always there for her kids' school activities, academic as well as sports, helping with homework, and driving them to and from school and activities. She always remembered everyone's special days with appropriate gifts and was a fantastic decorator for Christmas season. She was known by her son's friends as "Ma Kidd", always providing meals, emotional support or boarding as necessary at times. Penny will be greatly missed by her husband Paul; children Peggy (Barry) Keller, Fords, NJ; Larry (Christine) Kidd, Port Charlotte, FL.; Bill (Melissa) Kidd, Hamilton, N.J.; and Annie (Andrew) Izod, Apex, N.C.: Her brother John Kinsey, Inverness, FL.; and three grand children, Val (16), Julianne (7), and Caralyn (3). She was preceded in death by her parents; infant daughter, Mary, and 6 months old son Arthur Paul, Jr., and sister Pamela (nee Kinsey) Crotty. A visitation will be 6 to 8 pm, Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services. A service to celebrate Penelope's life will be held 11am, Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at Larry Taylor Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to The American Cancer Society. To express condolences to the family, please sign the online guest book.