Obituary of Anna D. McKenzie

Anna D. McKenzie Anna D. McKenzie, 93, of Endicott, NY, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 30, 2013. In heaven she is joyfully reunited with her beloved husband, William R. McKenzie, her daughter Maggie McKenzie-Steele, her sister, Eileen Porowski, her mother Mary (Marone) Fittipaldi, and dear friends Louise Wardwell, Adeline Thorpe, Florence Watts and Rita O'Brien. Anna was born on February 27, 1920, in Worcester, Massachusetts. After high school graduation, in 1939, she worked for an insurance office, the same year she met her beloved Bill, who proposed to her on their first date. (She said, "Yes, but you'll have to wait a few years." He did, until their wartime wedding, in 1943). His short Army career took them from Worcester to Texas to post-war Germany and around New York State, until they settled in Endicott in 1958. Anna is survived by seven children, Dotty and son-in-law Jack Wilson, Michael McKenzie, John McKenzie, who has devoted so many years to her tender care, Mary-Anne (Jim) Welch, Kathleen McKenzie, Nancy (Jeff) Oliveri and Therese (Greg) Bohn; her 15 grandchildren, Michelle, Diane, Carla, Heather, Dawn, Eric, Kyle, Adrian, Danielle, James, David, Deanna, Natalie, Steven and Matthew; her 16 great-grandchildren, as well as her niece Linda (Al) Misuraca, and nephews Peter Polini and Edward Porowski. Her enthusiasm for life embraced everyone she met, including a dozen-plus cats over the years and two dachshunds. A devoted member of St. Ambrose Parish, she taught 3rd grade religious ed in the 1960s and volunteered at the school cafeteria in the 1970s. She also volunteered in the gift shop at Ideal Hospital. After Bill's untimely passing in 1974, she found solace in travel with her friends Irene, Steffie, Lillian, and Flo on many trips to NYC and The Thousand Islands. She also went to Europe with Therese in 1980. She made many friends through Widow/Widowers, AARP, a veteran's group and The Girls Club in Endicott. At 65 she became an Avon representative, selling to very happy customers until retiring at 90. Sharp and ever curious, she was an avid reader; she loved poetry, crossword puzzles, Scrabble, and watching EWTN, Doc Martin, Keeping up Appearances, and Call the Midwife. She always had a twinkle in her eye, a song in her heart, and a smile on her face, serenely accepting what each day brought. We will miss her forever. We send a special thank you to Nurse Chris and the staff at the ICU/Wilson Hospital for their wonderful care. Anna's family will receive friends at a combination wake/funeral Mass on Monday afternoon, June 3rd beginning at 1:00 p.m. at St. Ambrose Church, Endicott. The wake is from 1-3, with the funeral immediately following at 3, and burial at Vestal Hills Memorial Park. Donations in her name can be made to the Animal Care Council, 131 Washington Avenue, Endicott, NY, 13760.