Video Transcription
Edith May Rice was born in Wyoming, Ontario, in 1877. Her father was a notable businessman in Wyoming and ensured that his children received an education at the local public and continuation schools. Wishing to make her own way in life, Edith left home at the age of 18 and went to work at the Penman Woolen Mills in Paris, Ontario.
While working one day, the thought came to her, “Is this all there is in life for me, sewing
on buttons and making buttonholes in underwear?” Edith decided to enter the Clifton Springs Sanatorium and School of Nursing at Clifton Springs, New York, where she received her R.N. degree in 1904.
She chose to enter the field of Christian Missionary work, where she served as head nurse of the Christian Service Workers Home in Albany, New York. The home provided vital medical services for the poor and underprivileged classes of the Albany area, and trained over 1,000 nurses.
In 1920, Edith returned to Wyoming to care for her aging father. She took over management of the family bookstore and later became the librarian of the Wyoming Association Library. She was an active member of the Wyoming Red Cross Society, the Bible Society and the Wyoming United Church. During World War II, Edith taught practical nursing courses for the Red Cross Society.
During her life, she never refused a sick or needy person in need of her services. She lived by the motto: “Not myself but others.”
We celebrate Edith Rice McKenney --an outstanding community leader from the past
who went above and beyond the call... for her Lambton. Our home.
Additional Information
Edith arrived home in Wyoming to help her father both at home and in business after her Step-Mother Lavina's death in December of 1920. This put an end to her accomplished career as Superintendent of Nursing at the Albany Training School for Certified Nurses in Albany, New York. Her time in Albany may have been over but Edith's career certainly was not.
In 1922 Edith married William E. McKenney. William or Mac as he was known was a widower who was 14 years her senior. At the time of their marriage William worked for the Canadian National Railway as a chef.
In 1928 a small library known as The Wyoming Assoc. Library was started in the back of the store and Edith was appointed Librarian. After taking on this role Edith wanted to keep up on modern library techniques so she enrolled for a summer at Western University in London where she received a certificate.
After her father's death in January of 1929 Edith and her husband Mac took over the operations of the bookstore. As well as working in the store Edith was for several years a Correspondent for the Advertiser-Topic newspaper.
Edith was part of the Red Cross and during the WW2 she trained women in her home the six month Practical Nursing course that she once taught in Albany, NY. She also kept a loan cupboard in her home that included wheel chairs, canes and beds that the public was welcome to borrow at no charge. Edith was the secretary of the local Branch of the Red Cross until she resigned in 1963.
On Christmas Day 1946 Edith's dear husband Mac passed away. In 1948 Edith sold the store and rented out her home. She moved to London to live with her sister but after only one year away Edith was yearning for home. She returned home and resumed her activities including her job as Librarian. In 1958 the person Edith sold the store to sold the contents of the store and the Library took over the full store space. Edith continued as Librarian until 1962.
Edith Rice McKenney passed away on Christmas Eve 1965 and was laid to rest in the Wyoming Cemetery. Edith was a selfless individual who always put the health and welfare of others before herself. Edith's motto in life was "Not myself but others".
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