Obituary of Arthur McKenna

Arthur S. McKenna, a retired Sales Representative, passed away after a brief illness at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston on Saturday afternoon, May 12, 2007. He was 70 years old. Arthur was born in Burlington, the son of the late Arthur and Helen (McNeil) McKenna. He grew up in the Winnmere section of Burlington. He entered the Air Force when he was 17 years old and served during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He held the rank of Staff Sergeant and was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Arthur worked as an Independent Sales Representative for 40 years. He hated the thought of being confined to an office and much preferred knocking on doors and finding new customers for the products he marketed. His work required him to move around the country. He approached each move as a new adventure for his family and as an opportunity to meet new friends. Some of his stops included Florida, California, and North Carolina. He returned to Massachusetts to be closer to his 2 daughters and his family. Although Arthur left Massachusetts he kept his loyalty to Boston’s professional sports teams. He was a big Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics fan. He was an avid reader and he loved to dance. He enjoyed the outdoors and taking road trips with his family. A trip with Arthur always included numerous stops along the way to see all the attractions and historical sites. He was devoted to his family and had great admiration for his mother and his aunts and uncles. Arthur was the loving father of Robin Hamilton of Reading and Fawn Bonfanti of Londonderry, NH. He is predeceased by his sister, Helen Irene McKenna. He was the nephew of Barbara Slack of Woburn, Marie White of Woburn, and Lawrence McNeil of Burlington. He was also survived by 5 grandchildren. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Thursday, May 17 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St. Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Wednesday 5-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, BURLINGTON. Memorial’s in Arthur’s name may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown MA 02472.