Eliza Kennedy Taylor

Eliza Kennedy Taylor died after a short illness on December 5, 2014. She was born in Youngstown, Ohio on August 10, 1930 and was the daughter of James Neilson Kennedy and Marion Peffer Kennedy. Her father was the founding director of the first alcoholism treatment clinic in the United States, later named in his honor as the Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic.

Eliza graduated from the Rayen High School in Youngstown, Ohio and attended Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts for two years, after which she left to work in New York City, first at the New York Public library, and later as a copy writer at the Young & Rubicam advertising agency.

In 1954 she married John Huntington Taylor. They lived in New York City until their family grew to four daughters, after which they moved to Westfield, New Jersey in 1959. She spent the next 55 years as a resident of Westfield.

For many years she commuted to New York City to work at the family business, William P. Taylor & Co., an interior design and furniture company. Her husband was president of the firm, serving for many years in that capacity after the retirement of his uncle, the founder of the company, William P. Taylor. She was also briefly with the real-estate firm Pearsall & Frankenbach in Westfield.

She was an active member of the Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield, serving in the 1970s as Chairman of the Arts Council of the New Jersey Junior League, and as a Co-Chairman of the New Jersey Teen Arts Festival in Trenton, New Jersey.

She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church and served on the Altar Guild for many years.

She was an avid gardener, loved creating a beautiful home for her family, enjoyed a good martini, had great taste in books, treasured her friendships, and had an excellent sense of humor. She was able to enjoy her favorite game of Scrabble until just a few days before her death. She will be missed by those who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, and her 5 children, Kate, and grandchildren John, Alexandra, and Elizabeth Smythe; Creighton and her husband John Flumerfelt, and their children Jake and Leah Flumerfelt; Lee Taylor and her daughter Hayley Edmondston; Anne; and son John and his wife Colleen; by her brother James Neilson Kennedy, Jr., and by her deceased brother-in-law Dr. William C. Taylor's partner Aalan Kobritz.

Services will begin at 11 AM Wednesday December 10, 2014 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Westfield, followed by burial in The Garth. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Altar Guild of St. Paul's Episcopal Church or the Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic at Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic, 2151 Rush Boulevard, Youngstown, OH 44507-1535. Arrangements by Gray Funeral Directors, Westfield. To offer condolences, please go to www.grayfuneralhomes.com.