A celebration of life for Catherine Hennessey will be held on August 11 from 7–9 pm at Beaconsfield Historic House in Charlottetown.

Catherine Hennessey was a beloved and respected presence in Charlottetown and across PEI. She was an advocate for heritage preservation, good design, and urban beautification, and she believed that knowing, loving, and protecting one’s community was a civic duty. 

In the 1960s, Hennessey was part of a small group advocating for the preservation of PEI’s heritage and culture. Those efforts led to the creation of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation, where she served as the first executive director. She was undaunted in her efforts to preserve Island furniture, buildings, streetscapes, and landscapes that told our stories. Her persistence, fuelled by her deep belief in honouring our history, led to many initiatives, including the restoration and installation of the bells of St. Dunstan’s Basilica in Charlottetown.

Hennessey received the Order of Canada, the Order of PEI, and an honorary degree from the University of Prince Edward Island. Both the provincial and municipal governments established heritage preservation awards in her name.

Catherine did not say goodbye at the end of a visit or conversation. She would simply leave or hang up, or, to friends, say, “Love, love,” and be gone.