Mary Anne McKenna

She was born on September 13, 1917 in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada, a daughter of Hugh and Mary MacDonald.

Mary was educated in Rumford schools and was a 1936 graduate of Stephens High School. After graduation she worked for New England Tel and Tel in Rumford as a telephone operator.

As her children were growing, she spent the summers working with them at The Rumford Wild Animal Farm in Rumford Point.

Mary was a faithful communicant of St. Athanasius & St. John Church in Rumford. It was there that she married her husband, Ralph McKenna on June 7, 1941. Ralph and Mary’s home was always open to and often filled with family members arriving from Prince Edward Island to work at the paper mill.

Mary was a devoted volunteer at Rumford Community Hospital for 17 years. She had been a longtime patron of the Rumford Library as she was an avid reader.

Those who knew Mary will remember her as a soft spoken, loving, kind, compassionate woman, always treating others as she would want to be treated.

Mary’s greatest joy was her three children, to whom she was always supportive and with whom she had a close relationship. They will miss her and count themselves blessed to have had her in their lives.

Surviving are her three children, Margaret MacDonald of Lewiston, William “Bill” McKenna and wife Brenda of Livermore, and Raymond “Ray” McKenna and wife Kathy of Peru; four grandchildren, Renee McKenna, Christine Wood and husband Barry, James MacPhee and wife Debi, and Laura MacPhee; three great grandchildren, Amanda Smith, Melissa Wood, and Joseph MacPhee; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Ralph, a brother Bill, and son in laws Joseph MacPhee and James MacDonald.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Mary’s memory to Parish of the Holy Savior 126 Maine Ave Rumford, ME 04276.