ILION - Nira Fern McKenna, age 81, of Lawrenceville, GA, formerly of Ilion, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 6, 2014, at Gwinnett Medical Center, Lawrenceville, GA, with her family by her side. She was born on September 2, 1933, in Affinity, West Virginia, the daughter of William Grey and Goldie (Waddell) Meadows, and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley WV. On August 21, 1954, she was married to John "Jack" T. McKenna at the Church of the Annunciation, in Ilion. Nira was a proud homemaker known for her attention to detail and talent for cooking. She has graced many good times and bad with a dish in tow. A devoted wife, loving mother, both tender and tough with a robust sense of humor and brilliant reply. She taught her children to love one another for what was good in ourselves and embrace ourselves and people, flaws and all. Nira will sadly be missed by her husband, John "Jack"; her children and their spouses, James and Andrea McKenna, of Hardy, VA, Kevin and Cynthia McKenna, of New Hartford, NY, Suzanne and Jeffrey Gerling, of New Hartford, NY, John and Ann Marie McKenna, II, of Cummings, GA, and Sharon and John McGuire, of Albany, NY; twelve grandchildren and their spouses, Heather and Steven Sides, Christine and Ryan Goux, Kevin and Nicole McKenna, II, Jason Gerling, James McKenna, II, John McKenna, III, Nicholas Gerling, Megan Skinner, Ryan and Krista Gerling, Katelynn McGuire, Caroline McGuire and John Patrick McGuire; five great-children, Riley and Jakob Sides, Andrew McKenna, Nathan Skinner and Jackson Goux; Surviving sister, Kay, and brother-in-law, Robert Sperling, of Mohawk; In-laws, Edward and Dorothy McKenna, of Mohawk; sister-in-law, Joanne Joy, of Ilion; brother-in-law, Austin Fisher, of VA; sister-in-law, Judy Meadows, of WV; and many nieces and nephews. Friends and relatives are invited to attend calling hours on Friday, September 12, 2014, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home's newly reopened location at 102 West St. in Ilion. Graveside services will be held 12 noon, Saturday, September 13, 2014, at Armory Hill Cemetery, Benedict Ave., Ilion. Anyone wishing to share a memory of Nira, or add to her online memorial, may go to: www.applegateandday.com In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to the Church of the Annunciation, 109 West St., Ilion, NY 13357, or the Alzheimer's Assoc., Central NY Chapter, 441 West Kirkpatrick St., Syracuse, NY 13204-1305. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. The McKenna family has entrusted Nira's service arrangements to their family Funeral Director, Don Applegate.