Obituary for Shirley E. Renzi (Cuomo)
Ventura, CA – Shirley E. (Cuomo) Renzi, age 96, formerly of Waterford, NY, died peacefully here on November 19, 2020 after a brief illness. She was the daughter of Louis N. Cuomo and Mary Bell (Whiting) Cuomo of Waterford. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 60 years, Alfred E. “Fred” Renzi, Sr. She was also predeceased by her brothers, L. Scott Cuomo (Bernice) and Ralph Cuomo, Sr. (Delores), and her sisters Betsy Cuomo and Rosemary Caruso (Ronald), all late of Waterford.
Shirley is survived by her children Annie R. Curto (Nick) of Schaghticoke, NY, Mary R. Williams of Ventura, CA., Col. (US Army, Ret.) Alfred E. Renzi, Jr. (Mary), of Frankfurt, Germany, and Louis P. Renzi (Jane) of Saratoga Springs, NY. In addition, she is survived by her grandchildren Evan and Thomas Williams, Jackie and Joseph Renzi, Christine Henninger, Amelia Giraldo, her great-granddaughter Zoey Leonard, and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Shirley graduated from Catholic Central High School and was a 1949 graduate of the College of St. Rose, Albany, NY, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts. She began her teaching career at the former Guardian Angel School in Troy, NY, and later returned to St. Rose to earn a Master’s Degree in 1951. She studied Spanish at Middlebury College, VT and at the City University of Mexico City, Mexico. Shirley was appointed to the faculty of the College of St. Rose in 1951 and in 1967, after marriage and family, returned to teaching and spent the last 30 years of her professional life teaching Spanish and English at LaSalle Institute, Troy, serving as the Language Department Chairperson during her later years, finally retiring in 1997. She had a wonderful sense of humor and greatly enjoyed the LSI faculty and her students, many of whom fondly called her “La Señora” and remained in touch with her into her eighties and beyond. Shirley and Fred enjoyed travelling to many places in Europe and the USA. Shirley particularly enjoyed summers at the family camp on Saratoga Lake with her extended family around her. She recently relocated to California to be with her daughter and grandsons, and remained there until her passing.
Shirley was a devout Catholic and was a lifelong communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Waterford. She was a respected member of the community and was kind and considerate to all. She loved her family most of all, and put them before herself in all things. She was a wonderful, generous wife and mother and will be greatly missed by those of us left behind. We take great comfort in the thought that the party in heaven, with Fred at the piano, is surely in full swing and Mom has finally arrived to join the fun.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral Mass on Wednesday at 10 am at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 119 Broad St., Waterford. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Waterford.
As per pandemic regulations masks will be required, social distancing and occupancy limitations will be observed.
There will be no public viewing hours.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in her memory to the LaSalle Institute, 174 Williams Rd., Troy, NY 12180, would be greatly appreciated by her family.
Shirley is survived by her children Annie R. Curto (Nick) of Schaghticoke, NY, Mary R. Williams of Ventura, CA., Col. (US Army, Ret.) Alfred E. Renzi, Jr. (Mary), of Frankfurt, Germany, and Louis P. Renzi (Jane) of Saratoga Springs, NY. In addition, she is survived by her grandchildren Evan and Thomas Williams, Jackie and Joseph Renzi, Christine Henninger, Amelia Giraldo, her great-granddaughter Zoey Leonard, and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Shirley graduated from Catholic Central High School and was a 1949 graduate of the College of St. Rose, Albany, NY, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts. She began her teaching career at the former Guardian Angel School in Troy, NY, and later returned to St. Rose to earn a Master’s Degree in 1951. She studied Spanish at Middlebury College, VT and at the City University of Mexico City, Mexico. Shirley was appointed to the faculty of the College of St. Rose in 1951 and in 1967, after marriage and family, returned to teaching and spent the last 30 years of her professional life teaching Spanish and English at LaSalle Institute, Troy, serving as the Language Department Chairperson during her later years, finally retiring in 1997. She had a wonderful sense of humor and greatly enjoyed the LSI faculty and her students, many of whom fondly called her “La Señora” and remained in touch with her into her eighties and beyond. Shirley and Fred enjoyed travelling to many places in Europe and the USA. Shirley particularly enjoyed summers at the family camp on Saratoga Lake with her extended family around her. She recently relocated to California to be with her daughter and grandsons, and remained there until her passing.
Shirley was a devout Catholic and was a lifelong communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Waterford. She was a respected member of the community and was kind and considerate to all. She loved her family most of all, and put them before herself in all things. She was a wonderful, generous wife and mother and will be greatly missed by those of us left behind. We take great comfort in the thought that the party in heaven, with Fred at the piano, is surely in full swing and Mom has finally arrived to join the fun.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral Mass on Wednesday at 10 am at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 119 Broad St., Waterford. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Waterford.
As per pandemic regulations masks will be required, social distancing and occupancy limitations will be observed.
There will be no public viewing hours.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in her memory to the LaSalle Institute, 174 Williams Rd., Troy, NY 12180, would be greatly appreciated by her family.