Whitman – Mildred (Taylor) McKenna, 94, of Whitman died Tuesday June 30 at Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital.
Born and raised in Rockland she was the daughter of the late Frank L. and Rosamond (Phinney) Taylor. She was the wife for 60 years of her childhood sweetheart, the late Harold “Bud” McKenna.
In 1943 Mrs. McKenna was employed as secretary to the Board of Selectman and assistant to the Town Clerk and accountant, Fred Sharp. Upon his retirement in 1947 she became Town Clerk and served in that capacity for 29 years, and was appointed and served as Town Accountant for 17 years. She served the Town of Whitman for over 32 years, retiring in 1976. During her term in office in 1948 she co-founded the Town Clerks Association of Plymouth, Bristol and Norfolk counties, serving in several capacities. Mrs. McKenna was a frequent speaker at “Girls State” at Bridgewater State College. During the town’s centennial celebration in 1975 she designed the new official town seal. Her biography is listed in the “Who’s Who of American Women” and “Who’s Who of American Women in the East”.
She was a life member of the VFW Auxiliary Post 697, and the American Legion Post 22 both of Whitman, and a member of the Mass. Town Clerks Association, the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, and the New England Association of City and Town Clerks. She was also a member of the First Congregational Church of Whitman for over 50 years.
Her hobbies were oil painting, organ playing, photography, flower gardening, and antique collecting.
She leaves her beloved family, a son Brian and his wife Sheila (Harkins) McKenna of Whitman, a daughter Nancy and her husband Alex Bunar of Hanson, and seven grandchildren, Timothy McKenna of Bridgewater, Thomas and Karen (MacNeil) McKenna of Halifax, Jeffrey and Michelle (Greene) McKenna of Middleboro, Jeane McKenna of Whitman, Michael and Andrea (Carli) Bunar of Lynnfield, Michele and Kevin Donohue of Halifax, Matthew and Jennifer (Owen) Bunar of Hanover, nine great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Alta Harding of Whitman and Russell Taylor of Abington.
Her services will be held Monday July 6 at 1PM in the Blanchard Funeral Chapel Plymouth Street (Rt. 58 at the rotary) Whitman. Burial will follow in the Colebrook Cemetery, Whitman. Visiting hours will be held two hours prior to the service from 11AM to 1PM. Donations in her name may be made to the Old Colony Hospice, One Credit Union Way, Randolph, MA 02368.