Frances "Frankie" McKenna, most recently of Oak Island, passed away in Wilmington on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
She was born in Bennettsville, S.C., on April 6, 1935, the only child of James and Frances Wiggins. The days of her youth were joyous and she made many true friends and continued to do so all of her life. She reveled in the company of her father, ‘Pappy', and her dog, "Lady"; and was blessed by the company of dogs much of her life, as they were blessed to have her.
She moved to New York City when she was a young woman and made many more friends and charmed all with her winning personality and appearance, most particularly her future husband, famous solo jazz pianist Dave McKenna. They had two sons together and raised them (along with three generations of dachshunds) at their family home on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Her husband Dave, one of the greats of jazz piano, had an extraordinary career, of which Frankie had been a strong supporter and motivator.
Though they enjoyed many warm years together, as they all did as a family, Frankie and Dave separated later in life and she returned to her roots, living her last years in her lovely little house on Oak Island. She made new friends and kept contact with established ones; and although restricted by constant ill health and largely house-bound she continued to live life on her own terms and rejoiced in the fellowship of her wonderful canine companion, ‘Miss Star'. They gave each other life and were quite the pair.
Her husband's death on October 18th, 2008 in Pennsylvania hurt her deeply; and that, coupled with her deepening poor health, finally undermined her defenses. She passed quietly from sleep to eternal sleep in her hospital bed at New Hanover Medical Center.
She is survived by her sons, a lovely granddaughter, her many friends and her beloved ‘Miss Star'.
Frankie is remembered in the best way any of us can be — in the loving memory of others….
By her request, her life and memory were celebrated by a party at her home on Oak Island and a ‘caravan' to her family plot in Maxton.
____________________
Sources: January 29, 2009 Cape Cod Times and The State Port Pilot, Wednesday, February 11, 2009 edition.
She was born in Bennettsville, S.C., on April 6, 1935, the only child of James and Frances Wiggins. The days of her youth were joyous and she made many true friends and continued to do so all of her life. She reveled in the company of her father, ‘Pappy', and her dog, "Lady"; and was blessed by the company of dogs much of her life, as they were blessed to have her.
She moved to New York City when she was a young woman and made many more friends and charmed all with her winning personality and appearance, most particularly her future husband, famous solo jazz pianist Dave McKenna. They had two sons together and raised them (along with three generations of dachshunds) at their family home on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Her husband Dave, one of the greats of jazz piano, had an extraordinary career, of which Frankie had been a strong supporter and motivator.
Though they enjoyed many warm years together, as they all did as a family, Frankie and Dave separated later in life and she returned to her roots, living her last years in her lovely little house on Oak Island. She made new friends and kept contact with established ones; and although restricted by constant ill health and largely house-bound she continued to live life on her own terms and rejoiced in the fellowship of her wonderful canine companion, ‘Miss Star'. They gave each other life and were quite the pair.
Her husband's death on October 18th, 2008 in Pennsylvania hurt her deeply; and that, coupled with her deepening poor health, finally undermined her defenses. She passed quietly from sleep to eternal sleep in her hospital bed at New Hanover Medical Center.
She is survived by her sons, a lovely granddaughter, her many friends and her beloved ‘Miss Star'.
Frankie is remembered in the best way any of us can be — in the loving memory of others….
By her request, her life and memory were celebrated by a party at her home on Oak Island and a ‘caravan' to her family plot in Maxton.
____________________
Sources: January 29, 2009 Cape Cod Times and The State Port Pilot, Wednesday, February 11, 2009 edition.
Frances "Frankie" McKenna, most recently of Oak Island, passed away in Wilmington on Wednesday, January 28, 2009.
She was born in Bennettsville, S.C., on April 6, 1935, the only child of James and Frances Wiggins. The days of her youth were joyous and she made many true friends and continued to do so all of her life. She reveled in the company of her father, ‘Pappy', and her dog, "Lady"; and was blessed by the company of dogs much of her life, as they were blessed to have her.
She moved to New York City when she was a young woman and made many more friends and charmed all with her winning personality and appearance, most particularly her future husband, famous solo jazz pianist Dave McKenna. They had two sons together and raised them (along with three generations of dachshunds) at their family home on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Her husband Dave, one of the greats of jazz piano, had an extraordinary career, of which Frankie had been a strong supporter and motivator.
Though they enjoyed many warm years together, as they all did as a family, Frankie and Dave separated later in life and she returned to her roots, living her last years in her lovely little house on Oak Island. She made new friends and kept contact with established ones; and although restricted by constant ill health and largely house-bound she continued to live life on her own terms and rejoiced in the fellowship of her wonderful canine companion, ‘Miss Star'. They gave each other life and were quite the pair.
Her husband's death on October 18th, 2008 in Pennsylvania hurt her deeply; and that, coupled with her deepening poor health, finally undermined her defenses. She passed quietly from sleep to eternal sleep in her hospital bed at New Hanover Medical Center.
She is survived by her sons, a lovely granddaughter, her many friends and her beloved ‘Miss Star'.
Frankie is remembered in the best way any of us can be — in the loving memory of others….
By her request, her life and memory were celebrated by a party at her home on Oak Island and a ‘caravan' to her family plot in Maxton.
____________________
Sources: January 29, 2009 Cape Cod Times and The State Port Pilot, Wednesday, February 11, 2009 edition.
She was born in Bennettsville, S.C., on April 6, 1935, the only child of James and Frances Wiggins. The days of her youth were joyous and she made many true friends and continued to do so all of her life. She reveled in the company of her father, ‘Pappy', and her dog, "Lady"; and was blessed by the company of dogs much of her life, as they were blessed to have her.
She moved to New York City when she was a young woman and made many more friends and charmed all with her winning personality and appearance, most particularly her future husband, famous solo jazz pianist Dave McKenna. They had two sons together and raised them (along with three generations of dachshunds) at their family home on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Her husband Dave, one of the greats of jazz piano, had an extraordinary career, of which Frankie had been a strong supporter and motivator.
Though they enjoyed many warm years together, as they all did as a family, Frankie and Dave separated later in life and she returned to her roots, living her last years in her lovely little house on Oak Island. She made new friends and kept contact with established ones; and although restricted by constant ill health and largely house-bound she continued to live life on her own terms and rejoiced in the fellowship of her wonderful canine companion, ‘Miss Star'. They gave each other life and were quite the pair.
Her husband's death on October 18th, 2008 in Pennsylvania hurt her deeply; and that, coupled with her deepening poor health, finally undermined her defenses. She passed quietly from sleep to eternal sleep in her hospital bed at New Hanover Medical Center.
She is survived by her sons, a lovely granddaughter, her many friends and her beloved ‘Miss Star'.
Frankie is remembered in the best way any of us can be — in the loving memory of others….
By her request, her life and memory were celebrated by a party at her home on Oak Island and a ‘caravan' to her family plot in Maxton.
____________________
Sources: January 29, 2009 Cape Cod Times and The State Port Pilot, Wednesday, February 11, 2009 edition.
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