by Bea Peterson
Over 300 people, family, long time friends and parishioners, attended the party for Sister Kenan at the Fire Department and VFW Hall in Grafton on Sunday. Sister Kenan recently retired as Parish Life Director of St. John Francis Regis Church in Grafton and Sacred Heart Church in Berlin. The two churches now make up the Parish of Our Lady of the Snow.
Rensselaer County Executive Kathy Jimino presented Sister Kenan with a proclamation declaring Sunday, October 18, as Sister Mary Kenan McGowan Day. Albany Roman Catholic Diocese Bishop Howard Hubbard commended Sister for her many years of dedication as a teacher at Catholic Central and other schools and her tireless work as Parish Life Director.
Dave Huskie of Petersburgh presented Sister with his military Commendation medal. He recalled what it meant to him to have her visit him in the hospital more than ten years ago when he was in the military. Sister was told that because she constantly prayed for the young men and women in the service, a flag was flown over the Capital in Washington, DC in her honor on Sunday. She was given a small flag that will be replaced by the Capital one when it arrives.
More than 55 families brought food to provide a sumptuous buffet dinner for the event. Afterwards, in typical Sister Kenan fashion, the extra food was brought to the Joseph House in Troy to be shared by others.
Unfortunately, after all the excitement, Sister Kenan fell and broke her left wrist and injured her right one on Tuesday.