Renata Elizabeth Sciortino

Renata Elizabeth (Renas) Sciortino, 84, of St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday morning, June 11, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Thursday, June 19, 2008, at 11:00 A.M. at Peace Lutheran Church, 3590 Lincoln Ave., St. Joseph, with Rev. Paul Koehneke officiating. Burial will private. Visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M., Wednesday evening, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made either to Peace Lutheran Church or to the American Heart Association. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Renata was born August 4, 1923, in Germany to Michael and Elizabeth (Goldenau) Renas. Her parents moved to America when she was 2 years old, and she was a St. Joseph resident for over 82 years. Renata graduated from St. Joseph High School. She proudly served her country during WWII from 1943 to 1944 in the Woman’s Coast Guard Reserve. On February 7, 1948, she married John Batiste Sciortino, Sr. Together they had two sons, John, Jr. and David. Renata, an administrative assistant, retired from Leaseway Transportation after 35 years of service. She was an active member of the Twin Cities Professional Business Women’s Association for over 20 years. She enjoyed politics, serving as a voting precinct chairperson for over 15 years during local, state and federal elections. Rena loved mystery novels; game shows especially ‘Jeopardy’; crossword puzzles; the beach and all St. Joe’s charm; the sunsets on the lake; and pinochle as a 40 year member of a local pinochle group. She couldn’t wait for the summer months, so she could share her love for St. Joseph and the beach with her grandchildren at ‘Camp Grandma.’ Renata is survived by her sons, John (Deborah) Sciortino, Jr. of Mesa, AZ and David (Carol) Sciortino of Westmont, IL; five grandchildren, Kristen, Steven (Marcella), Maria, Daniel, and Ryan (Sara) Sciortino; two great-daughters, Claire & Betsy Sciortino; her sister, Elsie Glossinger of St. Joseph; and sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. The bond with sister-in-law Eleanor Rinas for over 60 years grew stronger and Rena felt a special thanks for the love and sharing they had in recent years. She was preceded in death by her husband John on January 2, 2008; her parents, her sister Gertrude Baldwin and her brother Henry Rinas.