In Remembrance of Joan Cordelia McKenzie

In Remembrance of

Joan Cordelia McKenzie June 18, 1927 - July 2, 2013

Viewing July 9, 2013, 11:30 a.m.

Interment July 9, 2013, 2 p.m.

Philip D. Rinaldi Funeral Service

Parklawn Memorial Park

9241 Columbia Boulevard Silver Spring, MD 20910

12800 Veirs Mill Road Rockville, MD 20853

Our beloved aunt, sister, and friend, Joan Cordelia McKenzie has enriched our lives beyond measure She had no children of her own so we had her all to ourselves. She has always made time to spend with us and thrilled us with stories of her youth and family as they moved from Cumberland to Georgetown.

Aunt Joan was born in Cumberland, Berbice to William & Isabella McKenzie.

She was the middle child of William & Isabella, having been born after Claude McKenzie and before Clarice Liverpool.

Her childhood was a happy one and included playing piano which her mother taught. She attended Central High School in Georgetown, Guyana where her brother was also a student.

On completion of her high school studies, she completed a course of study leading to certification as a Registered Nurse in the United Kingdom. After working for several years in the UK. She worked for a while at Mahaicony Hospital. Later she migrated to the United States and lived in Hempstead, New York Her last position was at the Mid-Island Hospital in Bethpage, New York as an obstetric nurse. She was truly dedicated to delivering healthy and happy babies.

She always looked out for her brother and sister. In the late 50s she took a long cruise from the UK to Guyana just to take care of two of her brother’s children on their first trip to Guyana where they were relocating. She even spent time taking care of them before returning to the UK. After retiring she ultimately moved to Silver Spring, Maryland.

Aunt’s Joan’s major hobby was ballroom dancing. She and her partners won several d ozen trophies. Whenever we looked at her dancing pictures we would tease her about how the person with those athletic abilities was really so demure otherwise. It all seemed so unlikely that she was so talented and would actually have pictures taken of it.

Her other hobbies included gardening, crafts, and sewing. It was always a delight whenever she showed up with her biscuits for which she had a very special way of making them in just a few minutes.

She enjoyed watching tennis, political talk shows, cooking shows and to our surprise, wrestling. She was knowledgeable about all the pro-wrestlers.

During her time in New York she met and developed personal relationships with many coworkers. One that really stands out is Fran Stiglin. Fran has been a dear friend who provided encouragement and comfort to Aunt Joan over the decades and throughout her illnesses.

Her final months were spent talking about the old days in Cumberland, her time in the UK and Hempstead.

She is survived by her sister Clarice Liverpool whose children are Pamela, Karen, Diane, Douglas, Derek and Brian; and her sister-in-law Olga McKenzie. Her brother Claude McKenzie passed over a year ago. His children are Kim Luncheon, Mark McKenzie and Patrice Jordon. She is also survived by half-siblings Herbert and William; nieces including Claudine, Claudette, Oslen, and Leroy; and several grandnieces and grandnephews.

We will miss her gentle personality, quick smile and kind heart.

Rest in peace Aunt Joan.

ORDER OF SERVICE Greeting BiblE Reading Eulog킬 Remarks Prayer Closing

BIBLE REDING Psalms 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hanD .

POEM OF IFE Life is but a stopping place, A pause in what’s to be, A resting place along the road, to sweet eternity.

We all have different journeys, Different paths along the way, We all were meant to learn some things, but never meant to stay...

Our destination is a place, Far greater than we know.

For some the journey’s quicker, For some the journey’s slow.

And when the journey finally ends, We’ll claim a great reward, And find an everlasting peace, Together with the LorD.