Obituary of Jacqueline McKenna
Jacqueline McKenna (née Le Bian) passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on February 1, 2022. Jackie was born in Plouigneau in Brittany, France on September 10, 1930 to the late Joseph and Germaine (LeRemeur) Le Bian.
Jackie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt and could always be found front and center at family events. She was a supportive confidant to her solid circle of loyal friends.
“Je suis Bretonne!” Jackie was fiercely proud of her Breton heritage. She came to the United States at 16 years old to live with her late Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Kent and settled in NYC. She was a nanny for several years before starting her own family. She married Joe McKenna in 1955. They moved to Piscataway, NJ, where she lived for 50 years before moving to Watchung and then to Berkeley Heights. Jackie was a faithful parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Piscataway for many years. She was also a member of the Piscataway Senior Citizens Club. Jackie retired from her Sales Associate position at Sterns in South Plainfield, NJ and prior to that she worked at Grants in Edison. A familiar refrain on Christmas and Birthdays was "A Sterns box! Must be from Mémé!”
Jackie’s greatest joy was the time she spent with her family. She also enjoyed French food and music, Bingo, Rummikub, rides in the country with the required stop for ice cream, and traveling. Jackie happily embraced the Irish heritage of her husband’s family. She was always a sharp thinker and when appropriate she used her quick wit. We will never forget the gleam of joy in Jackie's eyes before receiving her warm and loving embrace, and, most important, her unconditional love and encouragement.
She is survived by her children; Michelle McKenna Hundt (Tom) and Joe McKenna (Rose); her grandchildren; Jennifer (Keith), Andrew (Ebru), and Cori (Ian); her great-grandchildren; Grady, Torrie, Kallen and Lila; and her nieces and nephews; John, Cathy, Chris, Steve, Kevin, Tracey, JD, Alan, Lindsay, Ryan, Justin and Ian.
She was predeceased by her husband, Joe; brother, Ange; uncle, Ange; in-laws; Catherine, John, John and Nucci and her beloved godson Joey.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated in early spring.
Au Revoir, MéMé. We will love you forever.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Charcot Marie Tooth Research Foundation (CMTRF).
