subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Wed, Nov 25 2009 

Published: May 16, 2008 06:41 pm    print this story  

PROFILE: Mary McKenna is the senior citizen of the year

North Tonawanda resident, ardent volunteer named county’s top senior

By Mark Scheer
E-mail Mark

Niagara Gazette

Mary McKenna is the kind of person who does what she can to help others, never seeking praise for herself.

Which is why the long-time resident of the Carousel Park Apartments in North Tonawanda found it a bit overwhelming last week when she was honored as this year’s Niagara County Senior Citizen of the Year.

“I heard that I was nominated, but I didn’t pay too much attention to it to be truthful,” McKenna said.

Soft-spoken by nature, McKenna prefers to allow her actions to speak for themselves. She is a regular volunteer at the North Tonawanda Senior Center, which is adjacent to the Carousel Park Apartments where McKenna has lived for the past 13 years. Her efforts tie in with her philosophy on life: make yourself happy by doing things to make others happy.

“I enjoy being with people,” said McKenna, who was born in Niagara Falls. “We’re like family. We enjoy being with each other.”

McKenna’s “family” at the senior center and in the apartment complex has come to count on her to help whenever a need arises, according to Pam Hogan, program coordinator for the center. Hogan said McKenna is always there to help with parties and events and regularly volunteers for senior center activities. In addition, McKenna serves as chairperson of the Sunshine Club, a group that is responsible for sending get-well cards to community members who are feeling under the weather and notes of support to people who recently lost loved ones.

“Every time we have a special event, she does whatever she can do to make the event successful,” Hogan said. “She’s just one of those people who are the backbone of the senior center.”

McKenna’s also the building’s official keeper of the times. For the past five years, McKenna has served as the center’s historian, collecting newspaper articles, thank you notes and other tidbits of information that serve to document the people who have come and gone and the events that have taken place at the Carousel Park Apartments over the years.

McKenna’s oldest son, Mike, said he’s proud of the work his mother does and continues to be amazed by her ability to give so freely of herself to others.

“As long as I can remember, my mother has always helped people,” he said. “She’s always been that way.”

The Niagara County Senior Citizen of the Year is an annual award presented by the county Office for the Aging. It is presented each May as part of Older Americans Month.

While appreciative of her award and all the praise from fellow residents at Carousel Park Apartments and senior center staff, McKenna is quick to note that she wouldn’t be able to do what she does without the support of those around her.

“Everybody helps,” she said.

print this story  

Photos


James Neiss/staff photographer North Tonawanda, NY - Mary McKenna of North Tonawanda, no stranger to hard work, sorts clips for a scrapbook project at the North Tonawanda Senior Center, one of many duties she volunteers for. McKenna was named Senior of the Year by the County of Niagara Office for the Aging. None/ (Click for larger image)


James Neiss/staff photographer North Tonawanda, NY - Mary McKenna of North Tonawanda, was named Senior of the Year by the County of Niagara Office for the Aging. None/ (Click for larger image)



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide

Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Featured Jobs

Recreational Aide
Recreational Aide - Full/part time. Performs hand on activities to include crafts, cooking, recreational and social acti...>MORE

Driver
DRIVERS – CDL A
TEAM DRIVERS NEEDED FOR
DEDICATED RUNS
No touch freight............Good miles
...>MORE

Nurse Practitioner
NURSE PRACTITIONER-CARDIOLOGY. Full time. NYS license with one year of recent coronary care or cardiovacular care experi...>MORE

BILINGUAL PHONE INTERVIEWER
Bilingual Telephone interviewer. Surveys for insurance policy review. Spanish/English a Must. ft/pt & Sat. No sales/coll...>MORE

Maintenance Supervisor
Maintenance Supervisor
FT Maintenance Niagara Falls YMCA. HVAC, electr., plbg, carpentry, cleaning, pool. $13.25/hr
...>MORE

Retail Manager
RETAIL Manager needed, exp needed, full time. Fax resumes to Hyde Park Laundry 285-8677....>MORE

Adult Residential Services Administrator
HUMAN SERVICES
Progressive Niagara County Agency serving adults with psychiatric disabilties seeks an Adult Reside
...>MORE

Sale Interviews
SALES. Joe Cecconi's Chrysler Complex, 2380 Military Road, Niagara Falls, NY 14304. Joe Cecconi's offers: Excellent pay ...>MORE

OFFICE HELP
Office help, p/t, must have exc. computer/word processing skills, fax 877-2029 or jimshotwell@roadrunner.com, NO CALLS...>MORE

PHONE SALES
PHONE sales, great pay, exp. a plus, nice NT office, FT/PT, hrly. +, Pete or Mike, 694-1251...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

1996 Saturn Sport Coup
SATURN 1996 Sport coup, 4 cyl, auto, exc cond in & out, loaded, CD, no rust, 97k orig. mi, $2195. 523-7102....>MORE

1996 Ford Escort
FORD 1996 Escort 4 cyl, 2 dr, exc cond in & out, no rust, 1 owner, only 61k orig mi, $2195. 523-7102...>MORE

Ford 1999 Windstar
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE

Chevy 1995 Pickup
CHEVY 1995 Pickup truck, 4WD, 5 speed, must see, never had plow on it, $2800 bo, 804-5579...>MORE

1999 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 1999 Caravan, 33, V6, auto, A/C, 99k miles, good cond., runs great. $1950. 525-7796...>MORE

Ford 1998 F150
FORD 1998 F150, standard cab, 4wd, excellent shape, $3495.
716-525-2889
...>MORE

Ford 2001 Taurus
Ford 2001 Taurus Station wagon, well maintained, 112,000 miles Siver ext. 4 dr, auto, asking $2800/BO. 716-772-2454....>MORE

Monte Carlo Z24 1998
MONTE CARLO Z24, 1998, runs good, average miles, excellent shape, $1800 , 990-2303...>MORE

Dodge 1993 Dakota 4x4
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE

Chevy 1994 High Topper Van
CHEVY 1994 High topper van, high road miles, mechanically sound, $900 or bo, 716-510-8105...>MORE

See all ads





 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index