The Life of Mrs. Mary R. Kenny
Mary (McLoughlin) Kenny, 80, of Basking Ridge, NJ, and Vero Beach, FL, the beloved wife of the late Eugene F. Kenny, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 23, 2020. She was born in the County Longford Ireland to Daniel McLoughlin and Mary (Davis) McLoughlin.
Arriving in New York City in the Spring of 1957, Mary began her career at JP Morgan in Manhattan before marrying the love of her life, Gene, in November 1961. Mary was a devoted wife and mother supporting her husband through night-school at Cooper Union while managing a household and raising four children. She was very proud of her Irish heritage and Celtic culture which she instilled in her children.
A devotee of Mother Mary beginning in her youth in Shanmullagh, Mary connected with the stories of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes and Mary Byrne of Knock – both country girls who were inspired through their visions of Mother Mary. Over the years, friends and family maintained her supply of holy water sending flasks from Lourdes and Knock which in turn were amply applied to her four children before important tests, sporting events, and major life events.
Throughout their life together, Mary and Gene enjoyed traveling and many other activities, including golfing and socializing with a large network of friends from Basking Ridge and Summit, NJ, and later, in Johns Island, FL. Their travels included multiple trips to Ireland, visiting beloved family in Counties Longford, Roscommon and Wicklow. An avid golfer with a competitive spirit, she enjoyed the many friendships that she made on and off the course. Perhaps her most memorable round was her hole-in-one at Ballybunnion Club in County Kerry.
Mary is survived by her loving sons, Kevin E. Kenny of Baltimore, MD, Robert J. Kenny of Haddonfield, NJ, and Eugene F. Kenny, Jr. of Fairfield, CT, and daughters-in law Ellie, Suzanne, and Kelly. She will also be missed by her seventeen grandchildren: Annie, Michael, Grace, Andrew, Christopher, and Daniel Helmer; Jack, Courtney, and Rory Kenny; Claire and Emmaline Kenny; Owen, Marilyn, and Gwendolyn Kenny; step-grandchildren Mary, Grace, and Sean Lynch; her son-in-law, Michael Helmer, and his wife, Lori Lynch; as well as; her siblings Anne (McLoughlin) McSweeney, Joseph Patrick McLoughlin, John McLoughlin, Martha McLoughlin, and Margaret (McLoughlin) Davis. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene, and daughter, Eileen Kenny Helmer.
A Mass of the Christian Burial will be held on Friday, August 28, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Fairfield. Interment will follow at Oak Lawn Cemetery, Fairfield. In order to safeguard the health of all attendees, we respectfully ask that you wear a mask and follow Connecticut State and CDC guidelines for social distancing.
In lieu of flowers In appreciation of the nurses and staff at LiveWell who have cared for Gene and Mary during the past six years, please consider making a donation to: LiveWell: 1261 S Main St.,Plantsville, CT 06479
https://livewell.org/donate/ info@livewell.org.