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JAWED and Dr. Elvis were undoubtedly regarded as masterpieces by their creators, and nobody argued otherwise. \n\nAfter graduating from Apex High School in 1979, Philip set his sights on a future in the US military. But his father, a WW2 and Korean War veteran who felt he had already served enough for all of his sons, firmly encouraged him to come up with a different plan. Phil wore a few different hats in those early years - among them bar bouncer, a role his dedication to weightlifting and physical strength had practically built him for. \n\nIt was a family connection in 1984 that eventually shifted everything, pointing Phil toward a position with Domino’s Pizza that would turn out to be career-making. He started at the bottom, learning the business fast, and quickly rose to area supervisor, all while keeping his sights firmly set on becoming a franchisee. In 1991, Philip became the owner of a Domino's Pizza store in North Raleigh. One store had been the dream, but two stores became the reality because North Raleigh’s growth made sure of it. The hard work had paid off. \n\nAmong the ambitions Phil had carried since boyhood, one stood above the rest. To fly. And in 1993, with the same quiet determination and capability that was continually defining every chapter of his life, he proudly earned his pilot’s license. Phil flew any chance he got, and loved every single moment of it. \n\nBusiness success was one thing, taking to the sky was another, but Philip’s proudest achievement walked on two legs. His son, Luke arrived in 1995 during his first marriage, and though that chapter eventually closed, his dedication to being an exceptional father and co-parent remained absolute. Ask Luke what his dad was like, and the answer lives somewhere between a Godfather quote, a random reference to Pepe’s Pizza in New Haven, a war history documentary, and a 1960s tune that somehow always knew when to show up. Luke most certainly looked up to his father. Phil was his Superman - invincible, steadfast, and larger than life. \n\nIn 2004, Phil met his forever partner, Tiffany. They married in 2011, and Phil's life fell beautifully into place. They built something simple and lasting - a life of mutual support, shared parenting (of both human and canine children), and the deep contentment of two people who had found exactly what they were looking for. In their cozy and quiet world, she grounded him and he anchored her. \n\nNearly 40 years with Domino’s behind him, Philip retired in 2023 and found his next great passion in woodworking. He designed and created everything from custom shelving - to a ramp lovingly crafted for his aging Great Dane, Moose - to an exact replica of Captain Kirk’s command chair from Star Trek. The man was a machine. \n\nRetirement brought two more unexpected and perfectly fitting titles. The first: \"World’s Best Dog Sitter\". The dog whispering gene his mother had passed down had found its moment. The second: \"Grandpa\". Luke and his wife, Kayla welcomed baby Josie in September of 2024. \n\nTo know Philip was to know a man of extraordinary discipline, determination, and dependability. He was a man of many talents who met every obstacle with the same unwavering resolve. He survived cancer. He endured two knee replacements and came back stronger each time. Somewhere along the way someone might have labeled Phil bionic, and they wouldn’t have been wrong. With his departure this world has lost something rare. He was one of one. \n\nPhilip was preceded in death by his sister, Susan Elizabeth Shefte; his mother, Mary Elizabeth \"Betsey\" Kennedy; and his father, Thomas Edward Kennedy. \nHe leaves behind his wife, Tiffany E. Kennedy; his son, Luke A. Kennedy and his wife, Kayla; his stepson, Evan P. Tolman; his granddaughter, Josephine E. Kennedy; his brothers, Stephen A. Kennedy, Jonathan E. Kennedy and his wife, Elaine, Christian M. Kennedy and his wife, Wendy. \n\nA funeral mass will be held at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Cary on High House Road at 11am on Friday, April 24th. \n\nA celebration of Philip's life will be held on Saturday, April 25th from 1-4pm at Prestonwood Country Club, 300 Prestonwood Parkway in Cary. \n\nIn lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Philip's memory to Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love, the SPCA of Wake County, and the American Humane Society."}},"city":"Raleigh","state":"North Carolina","deathdate":"2026-04-14","age":65,"image":{"localFile":{"publicURL":"/static/51d88fae87b88d4e9c54269a9c8a3993/object_Object_d1e7557eea.jpeg"}}},"services":{"edges":[{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Direct Cremation","slug":"cremation","path":"/services/cremation","icon":"icons/icon-urn.svg","price":"$1196.75","blurb":"Nobody likes surprise costs added in at the last minute. We guarantee you will not find any hidden charges here. We include everything you need for a simple or direct cremation. Simple, affordable and reliable. We have not changed the cost of our direct cremation service since we opened City of Oaks in 2012."},"excerpt":"Direct or Simple Cremation $1196.75 When calling another funeral home to compare cost, it is important to ask how much the total invoice…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Cremation with Solidified Remains","slug":"Cremation with Solidified Remains","path":"/services/cremation-with-solidified-remains","icon":"icons/icon-stones.svg","price":"$2875.66","blurb":"We offer the option of choosing how you receive your loved ones remains. Selecting our Direct Cremation with Solidified Remains option is a beautiful way to transform cremated remains into 40-60 “stones” that you can hold."},"excerpt":"Cremation with Solidified Remains $2875.66 City of Oaks Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with the service of transforming…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Cremation with Visitation","slug":"cremation & visitation","path":"/services/cremation-with-visitation","icon":"icons/icon-podium.svg","price":"$1917.84","blurb":"City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with onsite visitation. Nobody likes surprise costs added in at the last minute. We guarantee you will not find any hidden charges here.  Simple, affordable and reliable."},"excerpt":"Cremation with Visitation $1917.84 City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with onsite visitation…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Cremation with Private Family Viewing","slug":"private viewing cremation","path":"/services/cremation-with-private-family-viewing","icon":"icons/icon-podium.svg","price":"$1596.75","blurb":"City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation with a private family viewing. A private family viewing allows up to 10 immediate family members or friends to spend time with a loved one when a public visitation is not preferred."},"excerpt":"Cremation with Private Family Viewing $1596.75 City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with onsite…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Immediate Burial","slug":"burial","path":"/services/burial","icon":"icons/icon-grave-flowers.svg","price":"$2497.50","blurb":"An immediate burial has the same end result as a traditional burial; however, we have eliminated the extra (sometimes unnecessary) services prior to getting to the cemetery. Not everyone wants an open casket for viewing or a limousine for the family. Despite the term immediate, we can move as fast as you need or as slow as you like. This option simply allows you to save money by eliminating some of the fancy extras at the funeral home."},"excerpt":"Immediate Burial $2497.50 An Immediate Burial is when the body is taken directly from the place of death (or from the morgue) to the…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Traditional Funeral","slug":"funeral","path":"/services/funeral","icon":"icons/icon-podium.svg","price":"$6081.48","blurb":"We offer the same traditional funeral services as the big corporately owned funeral homes in the area; however, we cost about half the amount. You might consider a traditional funeral service if your family is looking for an open casket visitation, a traditional church service or a funeral service in the funeral home's chapel. A traditional funeral service can be altered to fit the needs of your family."},"excerpt":"Traditional Funeral Service $6081.48 City of Oaks Funeral Home is a wise choice for families that desire to honor their loved one with time…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Green Burial","slug":"green burial","path":"/services/green-burial","icon":"icons/icon-grave-flowers-green.svg","price":"$3033.75","blurb":"This establishment is one of a select number of funeral homes who meet the criteria for providing green funeral service by the Green Burial Council; a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization working to encourage environmentally sustainability in the field of funeral service. 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