In Loving Memory of Peggy McKenna
 PEGGY MCKENNA |
By JOHN O'FLYNN
A legend from the Vancouver Irish community, Margaret (Peggy) Mary McKenna passed away peacefully on September 5 after living with Alzheimer's disease for many years in Sechelt.
Born June 2, 1928 in Belfast, Ireland, to John and Ellen Coburn, she is survived by her husband Malachy, children Paul (Sylvain), Mary (Russell), and Noel (Jacqueline), and grandchildren Ben, Olivia and Ian.
Peggy's children remember their mother telling stories about her journey by plane to Canada in 1958 - it took about 20 hours back then with four stops.
In Calgary, the pilot announced that the plane was going to climb to 30,000 feet to fly over the Rocky Mountains. Peggy pulled out her rosary and wondered what she had gotten herself into. They fondly remember her words of comfort, "Oh, there there, love…" also.
She was active with the Vancouver Irish Society which sponsored feis and competitions in Irish crafts and baking. Peggy often won for the best soda bread and in knitting Aran sweaters.
At St. Patrick's parish she was a member of the ladies auxiliary, sang in the choir and taught grade one Catechism when her children were young.
She ran St. Patrick's bingo, which funded the elementary and high schools well after her children graduated from the school. As a Eucharistic minister she delivered communion to people who were home bound and was an accomplished lector. Before she retired she served as the parish secretary.
Those who knew Peggy will remember her remarkable singing voice. Peggy was not a vain person, but she knew she had a great voice and was never shy to share it.
She sang to entertain, at times to comfort, and sometimes just to cheer herself up. She was never more proud than when she was able to sing with the choir for Pope John Paul II's visit to Vancouver in 1984.
As a young boy I always remember Peggy for the "cigar-pipe cleaner" shamrocks that she, my late mother (Betty) and others would prepare faithfully for each St. Patrick's Day so that parishioners were properly attired. God bless you, dear Peggy, and thank you!
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