William C. McKenna, 91, of Montgomery Street, Warwick, passed to his eternal reward on Friday, February 19, 2016 at home with his rosary in his hands and his loving family by his side. He was under the care of Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island.
Bill was born in Providence on March 31, 1924, a son of the late William P. McKenna and Dorothy (Dignault) McKenna Donahue. He was the stepson of the late John Donahue. He was predeceased by his first wife Margaret (Castaldi) McKenna and sisters Hazel Wilson and Doris Brown. A summa cum laude graduate of Classical High School, Bill enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne. On D-Day he was dropped behind enemy lines at Omaha Beach. He received two Purple Hearts among other commendations and retired as a Master Sergeant.
After his discharge Bill attended UCLA and later returned to Rhode Island and was a residential contractor until joining the US Postal Service where he served in Warwick for thirty-five years. He was also a real estate broker for many years in Kent County and was a member of the National Association of Realtors. Faith was central to Bill’s life and he served God as a Eucharistic Minister at both Kent Hospital and Kent Regency Nursing Home. The center of his life was his faith, family and dear friends.
Bill is survived by his wife, Marie M. “Marcy” (Magee) McKenna with whom he would have celebrated fifty years of marriage this October. To honor his memory, he leaves his son, David C. McKenna and his fiancée, Bettina Brothers of Warwick, a daughter: Laurie Ann McKenna-Therrien and her husband, Mark of Cranston; four grandchildren: Renee Therrien, Bryana Therrien Mobilio and her husband, Nicholas, Kyle McKenna and Kelsey McKenna; and three great-grandchildren: Lanna, Emma and Luca.
His funeral will be held on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 9:15 A.M. from the Urquhart-Murphy Funeral Home, 800 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick (Exit 12-A off I-95) followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 A.M. in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 596 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home on Monday, February 22, 2016 from 4 P.M. – 8 P.M. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Pawtuxet Memorial Park in Warwick.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to: St. Francis of Assisi Church or Home and Hospice Care of RI, 1085 No. Main St., Providence, RI 02904 or a Charity of One’s Choice. www.murphyfuneralhomes.org
