Nora Saunders (Kenney)

Nora Saunders (Kenney), 60, wife of the late David A. Saunders, passed away on December 29, 2019, in North Port, Florida. Nora was born on August 17, 1959 in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Robert E. and Kathryn (Mertsock) Kenney. She grew up in Oakville and Woodbury, CT, and graduated from Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury. She received a degree in cosmetology from Sampieri School of Hair Design in Waterbury in 1978. Nora moved to Newport, Rhode Island in 1983 where she met her husband David, an award-winning chef in Newport. Nora and David were married at the historic St. Mary’s Church in Newport on September 28, 1991. Nora and David have a daughter, Brooke, who resides in Bristol, Rhode Island. Newport locals may remember Nora from the many years she and her husband owned and operated the Nutcracker Suite Christmas Shop on Mill Street, and especially Nora’s special way of personalizing ornaments for their customers. Nora was also a licensed barber and worked for several years as a barber at George’s Barber Shop on Broadway. In 2009, Nora moved with her family to North Port, Florida, joining other family members who lived in the area, including her mother Kathryn of Nokomis. Nora worked as a barber at Razor’s Edge Salon in Venice for many years where she gained a large and loyal following for her skill as well as her kind and easy-going personality. Also a talented artist, Nora ran her own business, Seascapes Sand Dollars and Shells, creating and selling her hand-painted seashell Christmas ornaments, greeting cards, and other beach inspired crafts. Nora’s favorite things were spending time with her daughter and going to the beach on Sundays with her mother. Nora was best known and will be most remembered for her beautiful smile, generosity, thoughtfulness, and her kind, gentle, and selfless spirit. Nora was predeceased by her husband David and her father, Robert E. Kenney. She is survived by her daughter Brooke of Bristol, RI, her mother Kathryn of Nokomis, FL, her brother Robert F. “Bobby” Kenney of Bridgewater, CT, her brother William “Billy” Kenney of Blandford, MA, and her sister Mary Kenney of Newport, RI. She is also survived by numerous extended family members including two aunts and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. A Mass of Christian burial will take place on Friday, January 10th at 10:00am in the chapel at Epiphany Cathedral, 310 Sarasota Street, Venice, Florida. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) at 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203 or online www.nami.org.

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Nora Saunders (Kenney)

August 17, 1959 - December 29, 2019