BATH — Dorothy M. McKenna died of a longterm illness on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, at her home in Bath.
She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Dec. 22, 1927, the daughter of Charles and Lillian (Smith) Johansen.
Dorothy graduated from Morse High School in Bath in 1944. She excelled academically and “skipped” a grade in her academic progression.
Upon graduation she went to work with the superintendent’s office for the Bath School System. She worked there for 22 years. She then went to work for The Hyde School in Bath as one of its first employees upon its founding in 1966. She worked at Hyde primarily in the business department. She retired after 23 years.
She enjoyed both “careers” but really embraced the Hyde experience and its focus on character development as well as academic excellence. Hyde School changed her life and influenced her family greatly. She was always grateful to the Gauld family for the opportunity to play an important role in the lives of many faculty members and students. Up until her death, she regularly received notes and calls from The Hyde Family going back several decades.
While she had a busy career in both the public and private educational sectors, she always maintained a civic and public service consciousness. She was proud to be a citizen of Bath, Maine, and she became one of Bath’s more involved public servants and held board seats for several organizations. She was involved in activities of the Morse High Alumni Association, a fixture in the electoral voting process (primarily working in her local ward). She was involved as the treasurer for The Children’s School House and with the Bath Garden Club. As well, she served as the treasurer for Main Street Bath. An award was created recently within the Main Street structure called the Dorothy McKenna Award to honor an individual each year for Volunteer of the Year. However, her primary focus for almost 60 years was Grace Episcopal Church. She served in many capacities with Grace Church and was also its long-standing treasurer.
Dorothy was predeceased by her husband, Joseph McKenna, of 54 years in 2004.
She is survived by her son Shawn and his wife Debra and son Shane and his wife Kari. She has five grandchildren, Ryan, Erin, Riley, Wes and Patrick. Her first greatgrandchild is due in the near term. She is also survived by her brother Robert Johansen and sisters Lillian Jewell and Isabel Morong.
A funeral service will be held for Dorothy at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, at Grace Episcopal Church in Bath. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 1100 Washington St., Bath, ME 04530.
The world was made a better place by Dorothy McKenna, her memory will live on as she made a positive difference in thousands of lives.
Arrangements are by Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High St., Bath. Condolences may be made online at www.Daiglefuneralhome.com.
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