Lucy McKinley

         Lucy Frances McKinley (née Kirby) passed away peacefully at Sakura House Hospice surrounded by family on Sunday, March 16, 2025, in her 90th year.

         Lucy was predeceased by her parents William and Sarah Kirby, her husband Donald McKinley (1994), her brothers Hank and Bill Kirby, her sisters Tease Brennan, Regina Andrews and Margie Sheridan along with many loved sisters and brothers-in-law.  She leaves behind her sister Carol Burke, sister-in-law Gail Kirby, and brother in-law, Walter Andrews.  As Mom and Grammie, Lucy will be forever missed by her children Kelly (Jeff Gilson), Kevin, and Karla (Bill Corno), her grandchildren Connor, Cooper, Finn, Peyton, Callum, Parker and Scarlett, and she will be missed by her many beloved nieces, nephews and dear friends.

         Lucy was a proud Newfoundlander, and even after relocating from St. John’s to Moncton, New Brunswick as a young woman when she accepted a job with CN Rail, she always referred to Newfoundland as “God’s Country”.  She spent her entire career with CN where she developed many life-long friendships and a love of travelling by train.  Lucy enjoyed gardening, winemaking, skating, playing the slot-machines, shopping, knitting, cross-stitching and enjoyed having ‘the girls’ down for wine and cheese!

         After selling the beloved family home in Moncton’s New West End, Lucy moved into an apartment where she lived independently for over 24 years enjoying her view of Jones Lake, and making new friends.  She was incredibly active and up until recent years often walked hours a day and could be seen all over Moncton moving at a brisk pace.  Lucy was fiercely independent and while she battled a host of health challenges throughout the years, she never complained, and nothing ever slowed her down. In 2024 she relocated to Woodstock, Ontario to be with her children.

         Her family would like to thank Dr. Chris Telfer in Moncton for her years of care; her Eagle Ridge apartment building superintendent, Linda Pearce, for her incredible support; the medical professionals at the Moncton Hospital and Woodstock Hospital for wonderful care; the Staff at Oxford Gardens for their compassion and kindness; and the amazing team at Sakura House Hospice for making her final days so peaceful.

         A Memorial Mass will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Woodstock, Ontario on Friday March 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life at Chartwell Oxford Gardens Retirement Residence.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to VON Sakura House or a charity of your choice. 

Wareing Cremation Services, 225 Norwich Ave., Woodstock entrusted with Final Arrangements. Your messages of remembrance and condolence may be shared here at wareingcremation.ca