Kathleen Therese Mary McKenna White went home to Heaven on November 5, 2021. She enjoyed a life of joy, struggle, laughter, perseverance, humor, great love, countless blessing and the love and grace of the Lord.
Kathy was preceded in death by her father, James P. McKenna; her loving mother, Marion R. (Pennell) McKenna; her paternal grandparents, Michael and Mary (Coleman) McKenna; her godparents, Les and Mary Elizabeth (McKenna) Leach; her aunts and uncles, Dorothy Pennell, Billy Pennell, Jean Catherine Pennell, Bob and Donna (Pennell) Anderson, Richard and Jane (Pennell) Brake; her first cousins, Susan (Anderson) Bjornson and James R. Leach.
She will wait to be reunited someday with those she cherished in this life: her son, Ryan Howard McKenna White; her brother and best friend, Rev. Michael G. McKenna; special cousins, Dave and Carol (Anderson) Burgess, and Patricia (Leach) Orchard; her very special friend, Mary Antcliff; and other cousins, relatives and treasured friends. In addition, Kathy has many cousins and other relatives in Ireland.
Kathy was a woman of deep faith and persevering prayer especially in times of health problems, personal setbacks, and ongoing pain. She followed in a long line of great people of faith in her family especially her parents, grandmothers, and her aunts.
Thank you to Clark Retirement for the care they provided to Kathy.
Just think of me and I’ll be there.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will take place 11:00 am Thursday, November 11, 2021, at St. Stephen Catholic Church, 750 Gladstone Dr. SE, East Grand Rapids, MI 49506 with visitation one-hour prior. Fr. Rock Badgerow and Fr. Larry King, concelebrant. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to God’s Kitchen, Catholic Charities West Michigan, 360 Division Ave. S STE 3A, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959, or Right to Life, 2340 Porter St., SW P.O. Box 901 Grand Rapids, MI 49509-0901.