Obituary of Mary Bernice McKeon

Mary Bernice (McCarthy) McKeon, age 101, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 8, 2013 at Lutheran Care with family by her side. Mary Bernice was born in New Hartford on January 1, 1912, the daughter of Charles and Anna (Lenahan) McCarthy. She attended New Hartford schools. Early employment included the Skenandoa Knitting Mill and the Boston Store in Utica. On October 12, 1935, she married Clifford J. McKeon at St. John's Church in New Hartford. Along with her husband, she owned and operated McKeon's Confectionary and Soda Fountain on Columbia Square in West Utica for 22 years. Many great friends and memories were the result of this venture. She later spent several years working at Vernon Downs until her retirement. She always enjoyed spending time with her family and attending the various activities of her grandchildren. She and her husband Cliff spent many winters in Clearwater, FL and enjoyed traveling with her travel trailer until his death in 1984. She is a former member of the Kirkland Senior Center where she enjoyed socializing and playing pool. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, John "Jack" and Karen McKeon of Whitesboro; her granddaughter Pamela and husband Peter Halenar of Bolton, CT and grandson Michael McKeon and wife Colleen of Orlando , FL; one great-grandson Ryan Halenar; her nephews Dale Wenke of Columbus, OH and Joseph Lloyd of Melbourne, FL. Mary Bernice was predeceased by her husband Clifford, a son James, two sisters and brothers-in-law, Margaret and Robert Wenke and Helen and Ronald Lloyd and a beloved niece Barbara Babiarz. The family would like to thank Dr. D. Christopher Clark and his staff for many years of excellent care and more recently the doctors and nurses of the 5th floor at St. Luke's Hospital and the nurses and staff in the Gordon Wing of Lutheran Care. All are invited to call Thursday, March 14, 2013 from 4-7pm at Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service, Inc., 35 College St., Clinton, with a service to follow Thursday evening at 7pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Freedom Guide Dogs of Cassville, NY or Spring Farm CARES of Clinton, NY.