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CHRISTINE McKENNA DIES AT 58

McKenna ChristineChristine McKenna with her daughter, Kayla, and Mayor-elect Pasquale Menna on election night 2006, at left; at right, with Kayla at a sendoff for her husband the following month.

Christine McKenna, the wife of former Red Bank Mayor Ed McKenna, died this morning after a long battle with cancer.

Her death, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, was confirmed by Mayor Pasquale Menna.

She was 58 years old.

Menna says Christine McKenna, a longtime nurse, was "the anchor in so many ways" to the borough's 16-year mayor.

"They met at college, and it's been an enduring and strong partnership," Menna said of the McKennas. "She was the wife of the mayor, but she was so much more than that."

Among her many roles, she managed the campaigns for Democratic council candidates in recent elections and served as an alternate on the borough planning board. She was active in numerous fundraising efforts on behalf of of such beneficiaries as local schools and the KaBoom fireworks.

Councilman Mike DuPont, a law partner to Ed McKenna, called her "a bright, compassionate wife, mom and first lady of Red Bank."

The couple have two young adult children, Sean and Kayla.

A self-described fighter, Mrs. McKenna was "fiercely protective" of her husband and children, and "stern but fair," DuPont said. "She was able to be loving in even greater measure," he said.

A funeral mass is planned for Monday at St. James RC Church. Other
details of her funeral were not immediately available.

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Posted on June 3, 2009 at 3:36 pm, filed under Breaking News, Government, People, Politics. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed. Email this story.

  • Mrs. McKenna was an amazing and loving person who raised a great family. She will be terribly missed.

    Posted by: Anonymous on June 3, 2009 at 5:20 pm | Permalink

  • As a best friend of their daughter, Kayla, I am happy to say that I knew Mrs. Mckenna. She was a wonderful woman who was filled with spirit. She will be terribly missed. I wish the family my condolences in this tragic loss.

    Posted by: Anonymous on June 3, 2009 at 7:23 pm | Permalink

  • Mrs. Mckenna was a fan of mine for that I will always be thankful.She was the epitome of a friend mgm

    Posted by: a c on June 3, 2009 at 9:07 pm | Permalink

  • Chris was Red Bank's biggest cheerleader of all
    the citizens in all the parts of town.

    Great, great lady who had a candor and realism
    that made me a huge fan.

    Raised two terrific kids and a perfect partner
    to Ed.

    Big loss for them and Red Bank.

    david prown

    Posted by: David Prown on June 3, 2009 at 10:13 pm | Permalink

  • Our hearts are with you,
    The Allen's

    Posted by: Allen Family on June 4, 2009 at 6:57 am | Permalink

  • Chris was a wonderful, outgoing, gal. I enjoyed every encounter I ever had with her. She was amazing with her firery spirt and tiredless energy. She will be missed.

    My condolences go out Ed and their children for their terrible loss.

    Posted by: Cindy Burnham on June 4, 2009 at 7:23 am | Permalink

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