Edna Magdalene (nee Niebuhr) Kenney, age 88 years, of Bala Cynwyd, Pa., and formerly of Middletown, N.Y., and Ridgewood, Queens, N.Y., passed away on May 13, 2018. Mrs. Kenney is the loving wife of 64 years to the late Ellsworth F. Kenney (www.stretchfuneralhome.com/obituary/Ellsworth-F.-Kenney/Bala-Cynwyd-Pennsylvania/1785492). She is the beloved mother of Kevin R. (Gillian Fisher) Kenney and Steven H. (Kelly Diffily) Kenney. She is the devoted grandmother of Emma Kenney and Nora Diffily-Kenney. She is the sister of the late William Niebuhr Jr., Robert Niebuhr and Richard Niebuhr. She is beloved by her nieces Maureen (Kenney) Mancini and Lisa (Niebuhr) Hazleton and her nephew Frank J. Kenney, and their families. Edna was born March 1, 1930 at Long Island City Hospital in Queens, N.Y., and grew up in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens. She graduated from Long Island City High School (Class of 1948.) She had a long work history, starting as a secretary at Western Electric Co. in New York City in September 1948, a job she left in June 1959 to raise her family. She returned to work in 1971 as a secretary and administrative assistant for the New York City Board of Education, District 24, in Queens. In 1977, she joined New York Telephone as an executive administrative assistant, compiling and coordinating many reports and rate-case proposals. Her work received many commendations, of which she was very proud. When Ellsworth’s work took him upstate to Middletown, N.Y., Edna commuted by bus for a while to New York City, but later retired from New York Telephone in 1988. She enjoyed a loving sendoff party from her co-workers and bosses for her many years of outstanding work and many more kindnesses. She then joined Wehran Engineering in Middletown in June 1988 as an executive administrative assistant, retiring from that company in March 1995 at age 65. Edna was an amazing knitter. She knitted beautiful, intricate sweaters for every family member and many friends, and she always had baby booties ready to welcome a new arrival in the family or among friends. In addition, she was known for knitting beautiful, personalized Christmas stockings that, to this day, hang on hundreds of mantles around the world during Christmas season. Edna even sent one to Princess Diana when her first son, Prince William, was born. She always proudly showed off the thank-you note she received from Buckingham Palace. Edna’s work on these Christmas stockings so impressed people that it became a side business for her. Over fifty-plus years, she knitted hundreds of the stockings – helping, among other things, to pay for the family’s annual week of vacation in the Catskill Mountains that she and Ellsworth and her sons always looked forward to. She and Ellsworth were avid bowlers into their 80s, and they also enjoyed attending dances at Ellsworth’s Masonic lodge, where they cut quite a figure on the dance floor, especially during lindys, foxtrots, and waltzes. After she and Ellsworth retired, they spent many happy years traveling – to Europe, Alaska, and other places around the U.S. – in addition to visiting family and being doting grandparents to Emma and Nora. If there is one word to describe Edna’s life, it would surely be “selfless.” She always thought of others first, and she leaves many examples of kindness and giving in the memories of people whose lives she touched. Relatives and Friends are invited to a Committal Service, Saturday July 21, 2018 at 9:30 am in Flushing Cemetery 163-6 46th Avenue Flushing, New York. A Memorial Service will follow at 11 am in Ridgewood Presbyterian Church 59-14 70th Avenue Ridgewood, New York 11385.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Edna Magdalene Kenney 2018. Stretch Funeral Services Inc
Death notice for the town of: Havertown, state: Pennsylvania