Irene “Renee” (pronounced ree-nee) Renwald

If you ever found yourself welcomed into Irene “Renee” Renwald’s home, you already knew what mattered most to her: generosity and family. Born on June 6, 1938, in East Chicago, Indiana, and raised in Calumet City, Illinois, Renee created a life centered on bringing people together and making them feel at home. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 31, 2025, leaving behind a legacy defined by warmth, care, and love. 

At the center of Renee’s world was her husband, Tom—her constant companion, greatest admirer, and best friend. Together, they shared a life full of laughter, deep affection, and genuine partnership. Renee and Tom loved bringing people together and were known for hosting spectacular parties, filling their home with conversation, music, and warmth. She will be especially remembered for the unforgettable Christmas parties she hosted year after year. These gatherings became traditions, where family and friends felt welcomed, celebrated, and deeply loved.

Renee was a proud graduate of Thornton Fractional North High School, Class of 1956, and went on to build a career doing what she loved most: helping others explore the world. She worked as a travel agent at Key Club Travel in Calumet City, where she first met Tom—who was traveling back and forth to Australia and relied on Renee as his travel agent. Their love story began there, and Tom later proposed with an Australian opal ring, a fitting symbol of both their journey together and Renee’s love of travel. Renee went on to work for over 30 years as a travel agent, first with Key Club Travel and later with Volare Travel. Through her work, she was fortunate to travel the world—an opportunity she treasured—and her curiosity about people, places, and cultures never faded. That curiosity extended deeply into her love of the arts. Renee found great joy in attending plays, concerts, and art museums, experiences she savored and eagerly shared with others. A longtime Art in Action speaker and a CCD teacher at St. Thomas More Church, she believed deeply in nurturing creativity, faith, and curiosity in the lives of those around her. She was also a devoted collector of art and antiques, known for her exceptional taste and appreciation for beauty in all its forms.

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, Renee is survived by her beloved husband, Tom; her children, Thomas (Lydia), Edward (Caitlin), and Marisa (Andy); and her grandchildren, Camille, Fayette, Thomas, Lucille, Mary Grace, Patrick, Violet, Ruby, and Rosemary—each of whom brought her immeasurable joy. She is also survived by her loving siblings, Noelle Gidley and Jim Reppa. Renee was preceded in death by her parents, Irene and Frank Reppa, and her siblings Frank Reppa, Vern Reppa, Peggy Fritz, and Carole Rice.

Renee was a longtime member of St. Thomas More Church in Munster, and her faith was lived most clearly through action. She gave generously to every charity that crossed her path, but her truest generosity was personal: found in the hours she spent on the phone checking in on loved ones across the world, the meals she cooked from scratch, the baked goods she shared freely, and the thoughtful gifts she gave simply because she noticed someone else’s need. That nurturing spirit extended to every living thing in her care. She adored her pets—her cats Charlene and Edna Rose, and her pugs Hal and Harold—and she never hesitated to look after any creature that crossed her path, including faithfully feeding a possum who appeared on her front porch each night.

Her home was always open, her kitchen always busy, and her heart always full. To her children and grandchildren, she was the mother and grandmother whose lap was always ready for another storybook, who taught them to roll dough from scratch, and who made every visit feel like the most special occasion of the year. Renee will be remembered for her kindness, her warmth, her incredible cooking and baking, and her remarkable ability to make everyone feel welcomed and valued.

Visitation will be held Monday, January 5, from 3:00–7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 5:00pm at Kish Funeral Home, 10000 Calumet Ave., Munster, Indiana. Additional visitation will take place Tuesday, January 6, from 9:30–10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas More Church, 8501 Calumet Ave., Munster, Indiana, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m.

Though she will be deeply missed, Renee’s love lives on—in shared recipes, long conversations, festive gatherings, and family gathered around the table.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Irene’s name to the Share Foundation.

https://sharefoundation.org/donate-now/

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