ROWLEY: Rita G. (Bruni) McKinley, 80, wife of the late John J. McKinley, III, passed away peacefully with her family by her side, on Thursday, February 18, 2009, at Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport. Born in Gorham, New Hampshire, daughter of the late Francesco and Pasquarosa (Trevesani) Bruni, she was a resident of Newburyport and Rowley.

Mrs. McKinley was a graduate of Gorham High School and worked as an Executive Secretary for Brown Company of Berlin, NH, until she left to raise her five daughters. She was an avid Bingo player and enjoyed spending time with her many friends at Atria Merrimack Place in Newburyport.

Surviving her are her five daughters, Karen A. and her husband Richard Gauthier of Topsfield, Kathleen M. McKinley and her fiancé Thomas Fillio of Newton, NH, Kimberly E. McKinley and Gerald O’Neill of Silver Lake, NH, Karla M. Smith of Amesbury, and Kelly J. McKinley and her husband Mark S. Friery of Plum Island; her brother Francis Bruni of Gorham, NH; two sisters, Mary Bedard of Gorham, NH, and Joan Parisi of East Hartford, CT; her grandchildren, Nicole, Kristen and Brian Gauthier of Topsfield and RaeAnna Hughes of Newton, NH; and several nieces and nephews. She was also sister of the late Gaetano Bruni, Adele Dwyer, Rev. Philip, Amedeo, Rose, and Joseph Bruni.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Church, 202 Main St., Rowley at 9 a.m. on Monday. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the F.S Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 14 Independent Street, Rowley. Contributions may be made to the Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack St., Lawrence, MA 01843 or the Merrimack Valley Nutrition Program/Rowley Consortium, 57 River Rd., Andover, MA 01810.