McKenna, Alberta (1916-2010)
MCKENNA, HYZER, STONEHOCKER, MCCORMICK, RAMOS, CLIFFORD, VILLEGAS, STRAIT, DUFFY, MCCOPPIN, MERNIN, CAVANAUGH, WASSOM, MOSBERRY
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 11/16/2010 at 18:50:39
Alberta McKenna
September 12, 1916 - November 13, 2010Storm Lake, Iowa
At the Methodist Manor Retirement Community where she had resided for the past few years, Alberta McKenna, age 94, of Storm Lake, Iowa, passed from this world from natural causes on Saturday, November 13, 2010.
Alberta Louise Hyzer was born on September 12, 1916, in Storm Lake, Iowa, the daughter of Albert and Stella (Stonehocker) Hyzer. She welcomed a brother, Arnold Dean "Bud", on March 9, 1920.
Alberta attended kindergarten in Storm Lake and then the 1st through the 5th grade in Malvern, Iowa, before moving with her family to Pennsylvania. In 1934, she graduated from William Penn Senior High School in York, Pennsylvania. Following her graduation, Alberta attended Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, for a brief time. Because of her mother's battle with cancer, the family returned to Iowa.
During her younger years, Alberta lived in Storm Lake and Malvern, Iowa, New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and Lacrosse, Wisconsin.
On December 29, 1944, Alberta was united in marriage to Lawrence McKenna in Moville, Iowa. Following a wedding trip to Texas, where they attended the Cotton Bowl, and then on to California, they returned to Storm Lake. They made their home on the family farm south of Storm Lake. They were blessed with three children: Susanna “Sanna”, Edward and Jon.
Raised as a Baptist, Alberta was confirmed a Catholic at St. Mary's Catholic Church on the day her daughter, Susanna, was baptized in 1945. Involved in St. Mary's Guild and Catholic Daughters, she remained a faithful member of the church.
Over the years, Alberta enjoyed the many groups she had joined including the Friendly Neighbors and the PTC group of Sulphur Springs School. Additionally, she enjoyed playing Bridge with her many friends and attending Questers meetings to learn more about the many antiques she collected and loved. In addition, Alberta also had a passion for Big Band music.
Alberta enjoyed traveling to visit family, sightseeing with the Emerald Club and taking small vacations with her family and friends. She loved the holidays and entertained her family with wonderful meals, stories, and cards. Her family and friends will undoubtedly miss her famous brownies and peanut brittle.
She had a fantastic memory. Whenever asked, she could recall people’s names, the places they lived and their descendents. Her family will sorely miss her recollection of the past since a bit of their history left when she passed.
One of her proudest moments was seeing the McKenna Homestead recognized as a Century Farm in the state of Iowa. The homestead was established in 1876 and remains active to this day.
Those who will cherish Alberta’s memory are her children: Edward (Nicki) McKenna and Jon (Patti) McKenna, both of Storm Lake; her son-in-law, Terry McCormick, of Jacksonville, Florida; her grandchildren: Shawn (Rebecca) McCormick, Meghann (Darin) Ramos and Doug McCormick, all of Jacksonville, Florida, Shawna (Steven) Clifford of New Bern, North Carolina, Brandon (Rachel) McKenna, of Omaha, Nebraska, Troy (Erica) McKenna, of Olathe, Kansas, Ryan (Ana Colon) McKenna, of West Palm Beach, Florida, Jenny (Oscar) Villegas, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Megan Strait, of Los Angeles, California; her great grandchildren: Grace, Riley, Luke and Chase McCormick, McKenna McCormick and Annabella Ramos, all of Jacksonville, Florida, Bridget, Patrick and Cailin Clifford, of New Bern, North Carolina, Alyssa and Makayla McKenna of Olathe, Kansas, and Oliver Villegas of Des Moines, Iowa; her nephews: Mike & Tom Hyzer, Joe & John Duffy, and Nate McKenna; her nieces: Mary McCoppin, Marsha Mernin, Jean Cavanaugh, Maybeth Wassom, Betty Wassom, and Doreen Mosberry; and other extended family and many friends.
Preceding Alberta in death were her parents and step-mother, Lu Hyzer; her husband, Lawrence; her grandson, Brian McCormick; her daughter, Susanna McCormick; her brother, Bud Hyzer; and her sister-in-law, Joyce Hyzer; as well as numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
Visitation: 3:30-8:00 p.m. Rosary at 3:30 p.m. November 16, 2010, at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, Iowa
Vigil Service: 7:30 p.m. November 16, 2010, at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, Iowa
Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. November 17, 2010, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Storm Lake, Iowa
Interment: November 17, 2010, at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Storm Lake, IowaCopyright © 2010, Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home
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