Maria Jean McKenna

home in Syosset, NY after a courageous struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Maria was born in New York City in 1933 and lived in Astoria and Woodside Queens

with her loving parents, Peter and Maria Simonelli, and her sister, Lee. Maria

graduated from Bryant High School in 1951. After high school, Maria was employed

by the N.Y. City Department of Justice Anti-Trust Division as an Administrative

Assistant.

Married in 1955, Maria started a family and lived in Woodside, NY, where her

children attended St. Sebastian’s School. In 1966 the growing family moved to

Syosset, NY.

As a dedicated housewife and devoted mother, Maria raised four children and

managed to work part-time locally and is fondly remembered as a familiar face in our

small downtown, working creating ice cream cakes at our local ice cream parlor.

Later in 1976, Maria started working full-time in the Home Mortgage Origination and

Student Loan Departments, beginning with the Long Island Savings Bank and

Manufacturers Hanover, and later with Chemical Bank, where she received many

President and Diamond Club awards and accolades over her 25-year career for

outstanding service and dedication. After retiring from the bank, Maria continued to

work locally in the medical office of Dr. John McGaley, one of the original physicians

in Syosset.

Maria dedicated her life to her children, sacrificing for them always over her personal

needs. She enjoyed hosting the holidays, shopping, Met games, occasional trips to

the casino, along with spending quality time with her family. She loved babysitting

for her grandchildren, as well as their pets!

Maria was a passionate Mets and Islander fan who saw her share of losing seasons,

but also cherished the championship seasons as well. Her hobbies included

gardening, crafts, sewing and knitting, as she made many blankets over the years.

Survivors include her sister Lee DeNicola, of Bayside NY; sons, Kevin McKenna of

Syosset, N.Y., and Walter McKenna of Garden City, N.Y.; daughters, Patricia Centonze

of Levittown, N.Y. and Karen McKenna of Syosset, NY. Maria was preceded in death

by her parents, Peter and Maria Simonelli. Loving Grandmother of 7 and Great

Grandmother of 4.

A visitation for Maria will be held Wednesday, November 1, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM & 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM at Beney Funeral Home, 79 Berry Hill Road, Syosset, New York 11791. A funeral mass will occur Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 11:00 AM. An interment will occur Thursday, November 2, 2023 at Mount Saint Mary Cemetery, 172-00 Booth Memorial Avenue, Flushing, New York 11365.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.beney-fh.com for the McKenna family.