CHICOPEE ~ Thomas J. “Smokey” “Mac” McKenna, 81, of the Willimansett Heights section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Friday, July 29, 2022. He passed into Eternal Life at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Holyoke on May 8, 1941, a beloved son of the late Raymond and Veronica (Szost) McKenna. He was raised in Holyoke, graduated from Holyoke High School, and moved to Chicopee in the mid 1960s where he lived the remainder of his life. He was employed for over 39 years in the Maintenance Department repairing machinery for the Dow Jones Wall Street Journal in Chicopee. He was a communicant of the former Saint Mary of the Assumption Church and was currently a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church, both in Chicopee. He was truly an outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing on his boat “the Smokey”, especially at Quabin Reservoir, whenever he had a chance to go. Above all, he loved spending time with his family and his many friends. He was predeceased by his beloved wife and best friend, Jeannette M. (Marinello) McKenna who was Called Home on February 3, 1997. They were married on October 15, 1960 and were blessed with over 36 years of happiness together. He leaves his loving and devoted son, Michael T. McKenna and his wife, Michele, of Chicopee; his dear son in law, Kenneth Hicks of Chicopee; his five cherished grandchildren, Ryan Hicks, Katie Devoe and her husband, Kyle, Joshua McKenna and his wife, Alyssa, Cory McKenna and his fiancée, Megan Samson, and Brandon McKenna; his six cherished great grandchildren, Cole Devoe, Dylan, Grace, and Noah McKenna, and Lily and Layla McKenna; his dear sister, Carol Ohlin of Phoenix, AZ; his dear sister in law, Barbara McKenna of Chicopee; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended family members. Besides his parents and wife, he was predeceased by his beloved daughter, Deanna M. Hicks who was Called Home on May 19, 2021; his three dear brothers, Raymond, Frank, and Jack McKenna; and his dear companion, Phyllis Paige. His funeral will be held on Friday, August 5, 2022 at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 (funeral home will open at 9 a.m.), with a 10:30 a.m. Celebration of Life Service in the funeral home. His burial will follow the service at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, August 5, 2022 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. before the Service. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, P.O. Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101-6307. For more details and to leave her family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
