Nancy J. McKenna - Obituary

ancy McKenna (69) of Annapolis, MD passed away on January 26, 2025, after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer. Until the end, Nancy valiantly maintained her sense of humor, with a ready smile for her medical team and positive attitude for her family. Nancy was born in Hartford, CT and then the family moved to Ithaca, NY, where she graduated from Ithaca High School in 1973. She went on to study early childhood development at Hillsdale College, graduating in 1977, then earning two master’s degrees in education from Elmira College and Mansfield University. Early in her career, Nancy worked with special needs children at the Immaculate Conception School and the Mayers School in Ithaca. Later, she found a new calling at the Willard Drug Treatment Campus, where for 21 years she took pride in helping inmates get a second chance at education. An avid underdog sports fan, Nancy was a loyal fan of the Knicks, Jets, and most of all the Mets. Nancy also followed the Olympics, tennis, golf, and horse racing. She enjoyed all music and regularly volunteered to sing and play autoharp for whichever Catholic church was in need but especially Willard where she enjoyed playing for the inmates. Nancy’s happy place was Saugatuck, MI, where she vacationed every summer to see her grandparents, enjoy the dunes with her father, Raymond A. Van Houtte and her mother, Margaret Graves Van Houtte and later with her husband and son. Nancy especially loved a good sidewalk sale and a stroll along Oval Beach. She is survived by her husband, Daniel McKenna; her son, Joseph McKenna; her daughter-in-law, Rachael Rockefeller; her brothers, Raymond C. Van Houtte of Annapolis, MD and Jonathan P. Van Houtte (Lisa) of Tucson AZ; her nephews, Jonathan F. Van Houtte (Crystal) of Baltimore, MD, Patrick Adams of College Park, MD and Kevin McKenna (Erin) of Newfield, NY and her niece, Crissy McKenna of Friendship, NY. Nancy will be interred in a small family ceremony on Thursday, February 6 at Crownsville Veterans Cemetery. A public memorial will be held on Friday, March 28 in Annapolis, MD. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.