Memories of a Gallup Family-Georgiana Monaco Kennedy

Memories of a Gallup Family

My mom, Georgiana Monaco Kennedy

John and Georgiana’s 70th Anniversary

My mom with two of our Monaco cousins and son, George, in the background in Oliveto Citra, Italy — 2015

My mom with my wife, Jovanna, during a cruise down the Adriatic in 2015

Georgiana Monaco Kennedy

By Steve Kennedy

Georgiana Monaco Kennedy, a longtime resident of Gallup, passed away on October 14, 2018, in Albuquerque. She was born in Chicago to Dr. Donat F. Monaco, a first generation Italian-American, and Evelyn (Bowen) Monaco, descendant of a signor of the United States Constitution. Family meant everything to her. From her birth on July 27,1920, in Chicago, to her death, she was known for her beautiful smile, her love of music, her strong faith, and her kindness to others.

Her father, a general surgeon, was exposed to mustard gas in World War I. Because of the resulting disability he suffered, she moved with her family to Santa Fe in 1933 and traded the streetcars of Chicago for a pony on a dirt road. The day after she graduated from Santa Fe High School, her family moved to Gallup, New Mexico. They eventually lived in a twostory house on Green Street, across from the Cathedral, which later became the Kennedy family home. Her father practiced medicine in a Downtown Gallup office above the J. C. Penney store on Coal Avenue and at St. Mary’s Hospital.

She attended Colorado Women’s College for one year (1938). Her father needed an office worker for his medical practice, so she left college to work for him. In 1939, she met the love of her life while serving as Maid of Honor in her sister’s wedding. John W. Kennedy, the groom’s Best Man, caught her eye. Her beautiful smile and disposition caught his. Married in 1940, they were together almost 75 years before his death in 2014. They raised and educated eight children. She encouraged her children to spread their wings and develop their individual talents.

From 1943 to 1947, Georgiana and John lived in Black Rock (Zuni) while John was a partner of C. G. Wallace in an Indian trading business. They returned to Gallup, where John developed a grocery business. In the early 1950s, John and two Italian immigrant cousins pooled their respective grocery businesses to build California Supermarket. John handled the trades with Acoma, Hopi, Navajo, and Zuni craftsmen, who bought their groceries upstairs. His partners handled the grocery business upstairs. Within a few years, he took the Indian arts and crafts business and grew it into Gallup Indian Trading Company— the largest distributor of handmade Indian arts and crafts in America for years. Georgiana helped him grow that business over the years.

Georgiana loved to bake. She was known for her Christmas cookies, her cookie tree and numerous pastries. She learned the art of cake decorating and made the wedding cake for one of her nieces. Cooking for her large family, she often purchased fivepound boxes of spaghetti. She was a skillful homemaker and learned how to make six gallons of milk stretch into twelve gallons for her growing family each week, long before 2% milk was popular in stores.

Georgiana was supportive of John’s involvement as President of the Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial on four occasions, President of the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce, longtime member of the Gallup Planning & Zoning Commission, President of the New Mexico Amigos, and more. While doing so and raising her family, she was one of the first students at the original UNM-Gallup in 1968 and studied numerous correspondence courses.

In 1980, Georgiana and John moved to Albuquerque and started a new chapter in their lives. Kennedy Indian Arts became a well-known source of collectable pottery and other Native American arts and crafts. John dealt

with craftsmen, traders, and customers in Northern New Mexico and Northeast Arizona. Georgiana managed the office and shipping. They traveled together to various trade shows and remained active in the business until John turned 100.

From the early days of taking a streetcar to downtown Chicago at age 6 to begin piano lessons, she eventually became an accomplished pianist and organist. She shared her love of music with everyone. She played classical music from sheet music and popular music by ear. Her deep passion for music remained a priority throughout her life. Over five decades, she served as the organist and pianist at the

Mom playing the piano in the main dining room on the Norwegian Epic during the 2015 cruise. We were walking nearby, and she said she wished there was a piano she could play. I stepped into the empty restaurant about midafternoon and mentioned her request. She played for about an hour. She was the oldest passenger on that cruise (95). Bria was the youngest (11 months).

Sacred Heart Cathedral and Church of the Holy Spirit (Episcopal) in Gallup, and St. Michael’s All Angels Episcopal Church in Albuquerque.

In 1996, Georgiana realized that she was three semesters away from earning her college degree. John encouraged her to return to school at UNM, where she further studied music. She completed her college degree in Fine Arts at UNM in 1998 when she was 78 years old and taught piano to children and adults until her death.

Georgiana created beautiful music and grew gorgeous flowers. Her lovely roses bloomed on over 300 bushes and enchanted everyone. She took pleasure in caring for them. Each year she planted hundreds of annuals and perennials, too. Each summer and fall, her fruit trees nourished her family and friends when she made dozens

Four generations: Hali Hobson (my niece), me, Jovanna, DJ Biava with Bria (DJ’s daughter), Kendra Biava (my daughter), George (my brother), Mom, Becky (George’s wife) — Venice, Italy – 2015 Photo from Georgiana Monaco Kennedy’s kitchen window

My mom with my brother, George, and my daughter, Kendra Biava

of pies, gallons of applesauce, and various jams and jellies. Her generous spirit touched young and old from all walks of life.

Georgiana was preceded in death by her parents, her sister (Betty Ashton), her brothers (David Monaco and Michael Monaco), her husband (John W. Kennedy), and their youngest son (Robert Kennedy). She is survived by her children: John D. Kennedy (Sheila), George E. Kennedy (Becky), Judith K. Lavender (Harold) of Albuquerque, Stephen W. Kennedy (Jovanna) of Gallup, Lynn Schmaltz (Paul) of Red Lodge, MT, Chris K. Bubany (George) of Tucson, AZ, and Georgiana Simpson (Steve) of Bluff, Utah, 19 grandchildren, and 30 greatgrandchildren.

Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season!