Myrtle M. McKenna

BIDDEFORD – Myrtle McKenna passed away peacefully in Biddeford on Dec. 1, 2022 at the age of 98 with her daughter by her side. She was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada on Oct. 12, 1924, daughter of Peter Costello and Margaret (Quinn) Costello of Emyvale and Charlottetown P.E.I.

Myrtle was educated in PEI schools and Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown where she earned her teachers license. After college she entered the Congregation of Notre Dame in Montreal, Canada. Several years later she returned to secular life and taught school for a number of years.

She married Patrick McKenna on Nov. 22, 1950. Pat passed away on Nov. 3, 2000 after almost 50 years of marriage.

Myrtle was a faithful communicant of St. Athanasius/ St. John’s Catholic Church now known as the Parish of the Holy Savior. She volunteered at Holy Savior school library and the church bingo games.

She was a stay at home mom until her children were in school and then worked at the Mammoth Mart and the Rumford Community Hospital until her retirement in 1982.

She was an active member of the Rumford Historical Society and a member of the Daughters of Isabella, Saint Timothy Circle, No. 504.

She enjoyed reading, music and traveling, especially her summer visits to PEI with her family. In 2010, Myrtle was named the Town of Rumford’s Citizen of the Year.

Survivors include her sons, George of Gordonsville, Va., Leonard and wife Connie of Rumford, Michael and wife Tanya of Dixfield, and daughter Barbara and partner Brenda Holbrook of Lyman; grandsons Kyle McKenna of Midlothian, Va., Jared McKenna of Portland; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband; parents; sister Catherine (Kaye) Bradley and baby sister Florence.

Private funeral services will be held at a later date with interment in St. John’s cemetery.

To leave a message for the family in their online guestbook, please visit http://www.thibaultremembrancecenter.com

A service of The Thibault Remembrance Center 250 Penobscot St. Rumford 364-4366

In memory of mom, donations may be made to:

Rumford Historical Society

145 Congress St.

Rumford, ME 04276