KENNEDY, Joseph Basil "Joe" - Age 88, of Halifax, passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2020 in the QE II Health Sciences Centre. Born in Guysborough, he was the son of the late Arthur and Mary (Shea) Kennedy. Joe was employed with the Credit Union Central of Nova Scotia, retiring in 1991 after 27 years of service. Upon retirement, he then served multiple terms as a Director of the Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation. Sports were a large part of Joe’s life. He could recount, with great detail, many of the softball, baseball and hockey games he played in, or witnessed, growing up. He loved to talk of the many athletes and games that he followed, from the 1940’s to present, especially the local players, who he was always so proud of. He was an avid supporter of softball in N.S., taking pride in traveling with the Guysborough Wonder Store Midgets to Nationals in Napanee, Ontario in 1982. He was a huge fan of local hockey, from the Vees, to the Mooseheads and all in between. Beyond his family, harness racing would be his greatest passion. Starting with his father and brothers racing horses on the ice in Guysborough and Antigonish and the small tracks in Port Hood and Inverness, to eventually owning horses that raced at tracks all over the Maritimes. He was a long time industry leader and volunteer, a member of Standardbred Canada, and served as President of the Harness Horse Owners Association of Halifax, President of the Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association, Director of the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Commission and various industry committees. His greatest moment in harness racing would be breeding and co-owning Maritime Champion colt Firms Phantom, who tied the world record for consecutive wins. While Joe enjoyed each of those wins immensely, he cherished the people that followed them even more. While there were many horses over his lifetime, he had a special place in his heart for his "little mare" Firm Footing, who provided him so many proud moments. He was a long-time member of St. Rose of Lima Church, Fall River and current member of St. Theresa’s Church, Halifax. To Joe it was all about the people, he loved to meet new people and hear their story, and made so many lifetime friends through work, church, sports and horse racing. He is survived by his brother, Arthur, Sydney; sisters, Audrey (Gordon) Harmer and Rita, and sister-in-law, Frieda, all of Guysborough; his very close nephew, Art Kennedy, New Glasgow and very close niece, Alison (Bryden) MacKinnon, Bedford; nephew, Jim and nieces, Kelly, Christine, Karen and Darlene. He predeceased by brothers, Arnold "Arnie" and William "Billy". The family would like to extend heartfelt appreciation to all the close friends who assisted Joe over the past few years as well as during his recent hospital stays. A graveside service will be held in the St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Guysborough on Friday, July 3rd at 1:30 p.m. with Father Callistus Abazie officiating, arrangement under the direction of the Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Guysborough. A memorial mass will be held at a later date. Memorial donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, St. Ann’s Church or a charity of your choice. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at: www.haverstocks.com Visitation Information Visitation There will be no visitation Burial Information Burial Date Friday, July 3, 2020 Burial Time 1:30 p.m. Burial Location St. Ann's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Guysborough