Obituary of William "Bill" Penney
It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the passing of William J. Penney, known by all as Bill, who passed away on September 6th, 2024. Bill was a passionate, caring, and kind man who lived to see 89 years of life, and he will be deeply missed.
Bill was born to William and Elizabeth Penney in Brooklyn, NY, on March 10th, 1935, and was raised alongside his sister, Eleanor. After high school Bill enlisted in the Army Reserves before continuing on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Hofstra University. He used this education to forge a career in sales. He worked for Kohler Beer Distributor and travelled far and wide to spread their products, gaining many friends along the way. Bill was a passionate salesman and took pride in the connections he made with his clients. His skill and knowledge of his product earned him the affectionate family nickname of “Uncle Bill, The Beer Man”.
One thing that took precedence over all, though, was his family. Bill was a loving and devoted husband to his wife, Bernie; sharing 64 years of love and laughter with her before her passing in January of 2024. He was her caretaker and fierce protector in her final years and loved her endlessly. Bernie and Bill brought 3 wonderful children into this world and were blessed with 3 grandchildren who affectionately called him “Pop Pop”. Bill was extremely proud of all of his kin, and had a spot in his heart dedicate to his grandsons. He also had a deep and special relationship with his daughter, Melissa, who gracefully took on the role of caretaker in his time of need. His family recounts that Bill was always “Mr. Fix It”, always tinkering and helping around their homes, as well as working outside, perfecting his lawn. In their time together, the Penney family resided in 8 different homes, constantly moving around for his job, before finally planting roots in Denville. It was in this town that Bill came to work for Norman Dean, a job that he held with high esteem as he had the rare ability to know exactly what a family needed. At Norman Dean, the name Bill Penney is usually followed by a great story, but more importantly, it reminds us of his compassion, integrity, and dedication.
And though we mourn the loss of this incredible man, we take comfort in knowing that he is at peace, reunited in Heaven with those who passed before him; his beloved wife, Bernadette Penney, his sons, William Joseph Penney, Jr., Christian Michael Penney, and his sister, Eleanor Penney. It is now that we look to his family to continue on his legacy of love and kindness. Bill’s survivors include his cherished daughter, best friend, and caretaker, Melissa Delaney and her husband Michael, his grandsons, Christian Michael Penney, Jr., Michael Delaney, Kyle Delaney, his daughter-in-law, Sherryll Penney, as well as a wealth of cousins, nieces and nephews, friends, and colleagues, the Killmer family who helped to care for both Bill and Bernie over the past couple years, and all who will remember him fondly.
If you would like to contribute to Bill’s memory in your own way, please consider making a charitable contribution to the Morristown Memorial Hospital Oncology Ward; a unit that served Bill with the utmost compassion and care. Memorial donations can be made via inmemof.org.
A Memorial Mass is scheduled for Friday, October 4, at 10 AM at St. Mary's Church, Denville. A graveside service will take place immediately after at Holy Rood Cemetery, Morristown, where Bill will be laid to rest with Bernie and his son, Christian. Please take this time to share a memory, leave a condolence, or light a memory to continue to let Bill’s light shine!
