Eleanor “Elee” McKenney

SACO – Eleanor “Elee” McKenney, 95, passed away peacefully on Feb. 25, 2025 at home. Elee was born in New Haven, Conn. on Dec. 19, 1929, daughter of William and Ellen (Broderson) McKane.

She attended school in West Haven, Conn. and graduated from West Haven High, Felt & Tarrant Business School and completed course work at CT School of Interior Design, Chicago School of Interior Design and The NY School of Interior Design. She had her own design shop, Home Interiors while living in Tolland, Conn..

She was an accomplished painter and traveled to the annual Heart of Ohio Tole Convention (HOOT) with her “painting friends” well into her 80s. She was involved in The Memory Box program which was an Artist’s Program started in 1998 with a small group of women and now provides hand painted Memory Boxes to hold precious keepsakes to parents worldwide whose infants died in the hospital.

Elee practiced yoga for many years. When other kids could be found lounging on the couch watching cartoons during a sick day from school, her kids were doing Cobra and Downward Dog to cure what ailed them. This eventually resulted in a binder bursting with Perfect Attendance Certificates.

She was the fun Nana who never turned down (and never lost) a “staring contest” with her grandchildren. She was the friend, mother and confidante who you could talk to, cry and laugh with for hours… and it was never enough. She loved a good book, a good laugh, a good conversation… and she made a mean macaroni and cheese.

She is survived by her husband, James McKenney; children, Dori Sidhu of Old Orchard Beach, Sharon Howland (and her partner Christopher Johnson) of Kennebunk, Jim McKenney, Jr (Dina) of Portland; three beloved grandchildren, Lindsay “Best Friend” Rio (Sherwin) of Brooklyn, N.Y., Ian Howland (Sady Koch) of Biddeford, Matthew Sedlis (Paige) of Portland; and two great-grandchildren who she was determined to meet (and did!), Shiloh Rio (9 months) of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Riley Sedlis (1 month) of Portland.

Per Elee’s request, in lieu of services, there will be an outdoor celebration of life for friends and family in the spring.

Memorial contributions,

if desired, may be made to:

St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or:

The Animal Welfare Society

46 Holland Rd.

Kennebunk, ME 04043