Eleanor Cripps Kennedy came to Western Canada from England as an Anglican missionary and composed an unpublished memoir of her experiences.

Eleanor Eliza Cripps was born on 2 November 1825 in Finchley, London, England, to William and Hannah Cripps. Little is known about her early life, although being of an upper-class family, it is likely that she was formally educated.

She married William Kennedy (1814-1890), a "retired Hudson's Bay Company trader and Arctic explorer," on 29 November 1859 in London, England. Two years after their marriage, the couple set out as missionaries with the Church of England, despite William being afflicted with rheumatism. They settled in the Red River Settlement in Rupert's Land, territory belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company. Their difficult journey—via St. Paul, MN, Upper Fort Garry, and Georgetown—was recounted in Eleanor's journals, written in 1905 and later entitled "."

They remained at the Red River Settlement for three months for the birth of their first child, William Theodore Ballentine Kennedy (1861-1942). Relocating to Fairford on Lake Manitoba, they taught the Christian gospel to the Indigenous population there, as well as the "simpler arts of civilization" such as blacksmithing and agriculture.

The family's plans to return to England in 1862—prompted by William's worsening rheumatism—were interrupted by the Sioux uprising in Minnesota. They returned to the Red River Settlement, where in 1863 Eleanor gave birth to their daughter, Mary Louisa Kennedy (1863-1943). The same year, William's Cree mother, Mary Aggathas Bear (c1785-1863), died, leaving her property to the Kennedys. Within a few years they had set up the house in a "highly fashionable" manner; they imported a piano and often entertained guests with Eleanor's musical talents. Eleanor was also greatly involved in a church and community activities, acting as being choir director and organist at St. Andrew's Church, and working singly and organizing events to aid those in need.

During the Red River Rebellion of 1869-1870, the Kennedys attempted to convince leader Louis Riel (1844-1885) to end the bloodshed. After Riel was detained, it was rumoured that Eleanor petitioned for his life and insisted upon the execution of prisoner Thomas Scott (c1842-1870). On a personal level, Eleanor's recent suffering of a miscarriage exacerbated the distressful event.

While William remained bed-ridden, Eleanor taught music and ran a small business that imported quality women's and children's clothing from London and Paris. Due partially to mismanagement by William, the business went under. William died on 25 January 1890. The following year Eleanor sold their property and moved to Virden, MB, to live with her daughter. In Virden, Eleanor spent her time painting landscapes, writing poetry, and occasionally performing at local piano concerts. She was named an honourary member of the Women's Canadian Club of Winnipeg.

Crippled by rheumatism, Eleanor died on 4 October 1913, after a fall from which she never recovered. She died in Virden, and was buried in St. Andrews in the Red River Settlement, alongside her husband. For a more detailed biography, see her entry at the.