Margaret Mary McKenna
Margaret Mary McKenna, 91, known to all as Peggy, passed away peacefully on October 29, 2017 surrounded by her loving family. In her final days, Peggy’s sons, daughters, and grandchildren recounted humorous family stories by her bedside. Most of the stories included details about her late husband, Joseph B. McKenna. Peggy and Joe were married for 64 years and were the parents of seven children. Peggy was the daughter of the late William E. Sullivan and Emily Mary (Arsenault) Sullivan.
Peggy and Joe spent their winters in Jupiter, Florida where they had a rich social life. Peggy enjoyed hours in the pool wearing her bathing cap. She always described the water as “just grand!” Peggy also loved going to the beach, especially Briggs Beach in Little Compton.
Peggy lived on the same corner of Mercer Street in East Providence for her entire life. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to tell stories about the past. She was an accomplished Mahjong and Scrabble player and rarely lost a game.
Peggy was a graduate of East Providence High School and Edgewood Junior College. Peggy was a devoted mother of: Maureen McKenna Goldberg and her husband Robert of Matunuck; Margaret G. Neubauer and her husband John of Providence; Patrick J. McKenna and his wife Patricia of Rumford; Joseph W. McKenna and his wife Nancy of Pawtucket; Ellen M. Whitehead and her husband Michael of Rumford. She was the loving mother to the late Kathleen McKenna McCahey and William E. McKenna: she loved and missed them greatly.
Peggy was Nana to fifteen grandchildren: Caroline and Shelagh McCahey; Mary Neubauer Keane; John, Paul, Kevin, and Grace Neubauer; Patrick J. McKenna, Jr.; Lacy Smith Perry; Justin Smith; William, Brian, and Dylan McKenna; Riley and Kathleen Whitehead and ten great grandchildren with two more on the way. She was the sister of the late William C. Sullivan.
Her funeral will be held on Friday, November 3rd at 9:00am from the Perry- McStay Funeral Home, 2555 Pawtucket Ave., East Providence with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am at St. Margaret Church, 1098 Pawtucket Ave., Rumford. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Calling hours are Thursday, from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. Contributions to McAuley Ministries, 622 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907 or The Pawtucket Soup Kitchen, PO Box 3102, Pawtucket RI 02860 in Peggy’s honor would be appreciated.
