MCKENNA, Mary Isabel Catherine

Age 87 of Dartmouth, passed away May 10, 2021 in Hospice Halifax after a lengthy illness. Born in Westville, Isabel was a daughter of James and Lucy Fraser. She was married for 62 years to Owen Mckenna. She was mom to many, Nana to many more and Little Nana to just one. While not outwardly demonstrative, Mom was forever warm and caring. The little house on Shore Road grew over the years as children arrived and was always full but never crowded. An early sign of her open door, always room for one more, approach to life came early in her marriage when her youngest sister Heather came to live with her and Owen following the early death of their own mother. Isabel trained as a Registered Nurse at St. Martha’s Hospital in Antigonish, becoming head operating room nurse before marrying Owen. Around her first child’s birth in 1960, she became a full-time mom, eventually to eight children, before returning to school to renew her nursing license to return to full-time work and to Mount St. Vincent University to pursue courses in Religious Studies. Care-giving was both a job and a vocation. Isabel was active in the community of Eastern Passage most of her life. Establishing roots in a new, small community can be challenging but she and Owen apparently thought they would do it through sheer numbers with their eight children. Always supportive of the children and grandchildren, Isabel attended more minor sports games and graduations than many coaches and teachers. In later years she volunteered with the local radio station, Seaside FM. Every bake sale for every cause in Eastern Passage, and later at Woodbury Villa, had Isabel’s fudge or brownies. She will always be remembered by her many friends, fellow volunteers and her bowling buddies. Isabel was deeply involved in the Catholic Church in her parish and beyond as a lay minister of the Eucharist, a reader and many other roles. Isabel received the Medal of Diocesan Merit in recognition of this work. She will be fondly remembered by her friends in the Catholic Women’s League. As well as her husband Owen, Isabel is survived by children, Leo (Vera Wheadon), Cathy Paget (Steve), David (Shawna), Patricia Jakeman (Tom), Marita Sheppard (Darrell), Sean (Sandro D’ascanio), and Mike (Natalie Woodbury). She is also survived by grandchildren, Owen, Neil, Sara, Laura, Alex, Nathan, Leah, Ben, Jacob, Jordan and Cameron as well as great-grandson, Keegan. David and Shawna’s foster children, especially Holly and Kari and their families, were also very important to her. Isabel also leaves siblings, Shirley (George Manos), Marjorie (Jim Tetz), Ross Fraser, Jim Fraser (Linda) and Heather (Gary Collens). Isabel is also survived by daughter-in-law, Lisa; brother-in-law, Michael Mckenna; sister-in-law, Janet Mckenna and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by son, Richard; granddaughter, Emily; sister, Barbara; sister-in-law, Loretta, and her husband Owen’s siblings and their spouses. The family would like to thank all the medical staff at Dartmouth General and the Hospice Halifax team who cared for Isabel over the course of her illness. Due to the current COVID19 restrictions, there will be no visitation or funeral at this time. A funeral mass will take place in St. Andrew’s Catholic Church on Shore Road in Eastern Passage when restrictions are eased. No flowers please. Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. Online condolences can be left at: www.dartmouthfuneralhome.ca