Gertrude K. McKenna

WOLCOTT- Mrs. Gertrude ?Trudy? (Kruska) McKenna, 89, of Clearwater, FL, formerly of Waterbury and Wolcott passed away on Sunday August 29, 2010 at Middlebury Convalescent Home. She was the wife of the late William ?Maxie? A. McKenna.

Born on March 8, 1921 in Waterbury, she was the daughter of the late Frederick and Bertha (Piel) Kruska. She began her career as secretary at Tinker School in Waterbury, then became secretary to Waterbury Superintendant of Schools, Dr. Gilmartin. Later she moved to Wolcott where she was secretary to Wolcott School Superintendants: Keane, D?Agostino and Jokubaitis. She was a past president of Ladies Auxiliary of the Wolcott Volunteer Fire Dept. Co. 1. She was an avid fan of the UCONN Lady Huskies basketball team. She also enjoyed attending local community Theatre performances and trips to the casinos. For the last 25 years, Mrs. McKenna resided in Clearwater, FL where she was a member of St. Paul?s Lutheran Church. She was known as ?Nana? to the many generations of her family and loved spending time with them especially during the holidays. Trudy?s positive personality was an inspiration to everyone she met.

She is survived by two sons, William J. McKenna and his wife Deborah of Northfield, James McKenna and his wife Judi of Wolcott, a daughter Diane Cepelak and her husband Richard of Wolcott. She will be deeply missed by her five granddaughters, Cheryl Cepelak and Alan Hyla, Laurie Greaves and husband Robin, Julie McKenna and Bill Mazzabufi, Katie McKenna and Tim Batoh, and Cassandra R. McKenna, and her three grandsons Michael Cepelak and wife Anne, Richard L. McKenna and William D. McKenna. She was adored by her nine great grandchildren Brandon, Sean, Kristi, Damian, Joshua, Christian, Garret, Zachary and Billy as well as Aaron, Cole and several nieces and nephews. Besides her husband she was predeceased by two sisters Lillie B. Heuer and Elsie K. Finnemore.

The McKenna and Cepelak families deeply appreciate the compassionate care provided by the staff at Middlebury Convalescent Home and VITAS Hospice.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10 AM on Monday September 6, 2010 at the Wolcott Congregational Church 185 Center St. in Wolcott. Burial will follow in Edgewood Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 5 to 8 PM at the DellaVecchia Funeral Home 690 Woodtick Rd. in Wolcott. Visit www.dellavecchiafh.com for directions and online condolences.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Wolcott Congregational Church or St. Paul?s Lutheran Church 407 South Saturn Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755-6597.