Enid May "Penny" McBride Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Enid May (Penny) McBride, 92, of Oakville Connecticut and more recently West Hartford, passed peacefully on July 6, 2022. Born August 4, 1929, in St. Elizabeth Jamaica to Estella Elvira and Harold Odeon Lodge, she was the fifth of eight children. Her birth home, “Cotswold”, was in the fertile mountains of St. Elizabeth where her backyard yielded everything from bananas, to citrus, mangoes, guavas, and coffee. Her father was the chauffeur for a large estate and drove one of the first automobiles in Jamaica. Her mother taught her to be a faithful Christian and a gracious lady. Penny’s family originated from the first British colonists to Jamaica in the 1700s who through generations maintained the traditions of their homeland. It was no surprise therefore that when young Penny the bank teller met the handsome William McBride from Northern Ireland, that they connected easily. Though their birth homes were oceans apart, Bill and Penny grew up using the same schoolbooks, church liturgies and singing the same hymns. They married and settled into life in Jamaica for the next 26 years. Bill worked for Kaiser Bauxite while Penny was the bookkeeper for the Hopwood Estate as they raised their children Shaun and Karan. Bill integrated seamlessly into the tightknit Lodge family and many happy memories were made during Christmases and Easters around the dinner table at Cotswold. In 1979 the McBride family emigrated to Watertown Connecticut under the sponsorship of their friends Fred and Joan Jamieson. The Jamieson’s lovingly brought the McBride’s into their family, and they celebrated many wonderful holidays together. In Watertown Penny worked many years at Dr. Lane’s optometry practice as the receptionist, bookkeeper and ‘eyeglass consultant’. She was a friend to all who came to the office, listening, sharing, and laughing. She made friends throughout Watertown, in her neighborhood, the banks, grocery stores and especially in Marshall’s. Penny loved participating in the lives of Karan’s high school friends and shared many happy moments with them. Penny was above all a devout Christian. She and Bill were faithful parishioners of Christ Church, Watertown where she sang in the choir, was a lay reader and attended Bible study. She loved her church family and they formed strong bonds. When she and Bill moved to West Hartford in 2019, they joined St. John’s Episcopal Church where they found a new spiritual home. Penny believed in love through action. She was quick to cook a meal, send a card, make a phone call, or offer a helping hand. She was exceptionally generous to all. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. One of her favorite roles was as a loving wife to Bill across 59 years and two countries together. Penny was devoted to her children, grandchildren, sisters, nieces, and nephews, and “Auntie Penny” was always a favorite. She was well bred, and it showed in the way that she spoke, dressed, and treated other people. She loved music and was quick to break into a “likkle jig” at a moment’s notice, she had a great sense of humor and loved to clown with her family and would enjoy a funny outfit and a good laugh. She loved a good bargain and disliked waste. She was a talented seamstress, knitter, and gardener. She was famous for her signature coy smile accompanied by a slight tilt of the head. She believed in giving thanks always and looking for the Lord’s presence in everyday life. Enid is survived by husband William McBride of West Hartford, son Shaun and wife Rose of Bethlehem, daughter Karan Emerick and husband Geoffrey, grandson William McBride and granddaughters Britt and Catherine Emerick, sisters Winifred Blackwood and Kathleen Lodge of Jamaica, Fay Davis and Marion Bancroft of Florida, and by her loving nephews and nieces Seymour and Michael Blackwood and Suzanne Brandt of Jamaica, Mansfield Blackwood of Barbados and John and Robert Davis and Andrea Lodge of Florida. She was predeceased by sister Phyllis Lodge and brothers Donald and John Lodge of Jamaica. A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 679 Farmington Ave. in West Hartford on Saturday, July 30th at 11:00 am led by the Rev. Margie Baker. A reception will follow in the church hall. All are welcome. Interment of ashes in the St. John’s cloister garden will be performed privately preceding the service. The service will be live-streamed and available at sjparish.net/services or https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCIEVXhY2PTm4jCVbdNVihtw

Enid May "Penny" McBride

August 4, 1929 - July 6, 2022