ALTAMONT — An efficient and particular woman, Eileen Ruth McKenney put her family first, followed by her faith, friends, and community.

“She was a strong, independent woman,” said her daughter, Kathy Hornberger. “I learned from her example. She’s very humble...She would do things herself not to bother others.”

She died on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015. She was 88.

Mrs. McKenney was born on Feb. 1, 1927, the daughter of the late Clifford and Ruth Shoro. She grew up in Albany. Her father worked for the state’s health department and her mother was a homemaker. She had two older sisters and a younger brother who died in a boating accident when he was 9. Both of her parents were from Vermont and the family stayed in touch with relatives there.

Mrs. McKenney graduated from Vincentian Institute and attended Albany Business College. It was there that she met the man who would become her husband, Harold Earl McKenney Jr.

“He was the love her life,” said Mrs. Hornberger. “They married very young and he died very young.”

Mr. McKenney died in 1965 at the age of 38. At that time, the five McKenney children ranged in age from 10 to 17. Mrs. McKenney supported the family by working as a secretary for the Guilderland Central School District, a job she held for over 20 years.

“She was always strong and independent,” said her daughter. “She kept things going, taking care of the house and the kids — and mowing the lawn now and then.”

The McKenney family had moved to Altamont in 1957, following Mrs. McKenney’s parents, the Shoros, who lived on Lincoln Avenue. The McKenneys shared a duplex at Main and Grand streets with Mrs. McKenney’s sister, Helen, and her family.

“It was great; my cousins and aunt and uncle were right next door,” said Mrs. Hornberger. “After 1965, Mother bought my grandparents’ house on Lincoln Avenue.” Mrs. Hornberger and her husband eventually bought the Lincoln Avenue house and now their daughter lives there, making four generations who have lived at the same address over time.

“We have family gatherings at that house. We’ve all gathered there over the last few days,” said Mrs. Hornberger.

Mrs. McKenney was raised as a Catholic and raised her children as Catholics, too, as parishioners of St. Lucy’s Church in the village. “My four brothers all were altar boys,” said Mrs. Hornberger.

Mrs. McKenney would help with the church linens and with music for the Masses, and she sang in the church choir.

“She and my father were married at St. Lucy’s. I married there and my daughter was baptized there,” said Mrs. Hornberger.

Mrs. McKenney loved music, and listened to popular and shows tunes on the radio. Her husband “was the first on the block to buy a stereo,” said Mrs. Hornberger.

Mrs. McKenney enjoyed sewing, too. “She made dresses for me.... and she handmade quilts for her grandchildren,” said Mrs. Hornberger.

After she retired, Mrs. McKenney helped when Community Caregivers was first established; she did office and clerical work as well as driving clients. She also volunteered with her sister to deliver Meals on Wheels to people in need.

An active member of the Altamont Seniors, Mrs. McKenney for years wrote a weekly column for The Enterprise, detailing the group’s outings, meals, and events. While many correspondents in that era wrote their news longhand, Mrs. McKenney always typed hers. Her columns never needed editing; they were flawless. At the dawn of the Internet age, Mrs. McKenney switched to writing her columns on computer so they could be sent electronically.

She had a tight deadline, since the Altamont Seniors meet on Tuesdays and the Enterprise production day is Wednesday. She always met her deadlines.

“She wanted to do it herself,” her daughter said of the column. “She wanted to be sure it was done right.”

Mrs. McKenney loved words and, while other of the Altamont Seniors might be playing bingo, she and her sister would play Scrabble.

“She liked to correct our grammar,” said Mrs. Hornberger. “She didn’t want us to embarrass ourselves. She wanted you to be the best you could be.”

Mrs. McKenney was very organized. Going through her records recently, her daughter found what she needed easily.

“She worried for us so we wouldn’t worry ourselves,” said Mrs. Hornberger. “She always thought of everyone else.”

Mrs. McKenney was particularly involved with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “When we were growing up, she would get time from work to, say, see my brother play in a tennis match....She was at all my children’s games and concerts and plays — anything at school....She would cheer them on, always, always...She was there with her cane and her oxygen. She was there.”

Nine of her grandchildren were able to visit Mrs. McKenney in the hospital before she died. “She knew they were there,” said Mrs. Hornberger.

Her daughter read from Proverbs a passage she felt spoke of her mother: “She has opened her hand to the needy and stretched out her hands to the poor. Strength and beauty are her clothing and she shall laugh in the latter day.”

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Eileen Ruth McKenney is survived by her children, Kathleen Hornberger and her husband, Richard, of Guilderland; Harold McKenney III and his wife, Linda, of Gansevoort; Stephen McKenney and his wife, Susan, of Clinton, New Jersey; and David McKenney and his wife, Jan, of Viper, Kentucky.

She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Marcy Casavant and her husband, George, Gretchen Murphy, Erik McKenney and his wife, Kate, Dirk McKenney and his wife, Erin, Michelle McKenney Oliver, Kristofer McKenney, Kimberly Zacarias and her husband, Carlos, Megan Coulombe and her husband, Rich, Matthew McKenney and his wife, Amanda, Amanda Wilder and her husband, Ben, and Joseph McKenney and his wife, Leslie; 28 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

Her beloved husband, Harold Earl McKenney Jr., died in 1965; her son Daniel Joseph McKenney died in 1988; her great-grandson Tyler Kristofer McKenney died in 2001; and her brother, Richard Shoro, died before her, too, as did her sisters, Helen (née Shoro) Marion and Marion (née Shoro) Teeter.

Calling hours were held on Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont.  A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, Feb. 23, at St. Lucy’s/ St. Bernadette Church in Altamont.  An interment will be held in the spring. Online condolences may be made at fredendallfuneralhome.com.

The family expresses its gratitude “for the special care provided by Dr. Hedy Migden, Dawn, Kassondra, June, the staff at Atria Crossgate, and the Hospice Inn staff at St. Peter’s Hospital.”

Memorial contributions may be made to The Names Project Foundation, Aids Memorial Quilt, Attention: Individual Giving, 204 14th St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318-4315, or to St. Lucy’s/ St. Bernadette Church, Post Office Box 678, Altamont, NY 12009.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer