Reinolda Panszczyk Obituary

Still and forever in my daily thoughts...

Remembering Reny on this anniversary of her passing, though I have never needed a reminder of our long and meaningful relationship. Missing her still....

Dear Rhonda, Dad and Aunt Char,

I know this is a very difficult time for all of you. You have lost your Mother, your sister, your friend. But, when I look back at all the times we've shared with Auntie and each other, the first word that pops into my mind is LOVE. Rhonda, she was so very proud of you. She spoke of you constantly when she and I had our late night, long distance chats. Aunt Char, you were more than a sister to Aunt Reny. You were her best friend along with Rhonda. Dad, of course I recollect most all the fun you and Aunt Reny had together - the birthday cake fight is just one example that comes to mind. She was also so proud of you for your strength and courage (2 traits I will remember Aunt Reny for the most) as you have gone thru many challenges life has to offer.



As for me, I will always remember Aunt Reny for a few reasons - her BIG purses that didn't have a bottom - she could find most anything we wanted or needed in one of her purses...lol....laying out with her at the pool when she had her condo, going to Greek fest with her (yes, we even danced), crashing a wedding but kindly explaining to the surprised bride and groom that she knew the owner and she just wanted to make sure he was doing his job properly, and, last, but not least....the one thing I will never forget and I hope will be passed down from generation to generation - her FUNNY kisses. As a child, I always knew they were coming and would shyly try getting out of being on the receiving end. But, as I grew older, those kisses became very special to me. They were UNIQUE, given with LOVE, and as hard as I try, I cannot duplicate them fully. Those kisses are an exact personification of Aunt Reny. She was unique, loving and will never be duplicated. I miss you Aunt Reny, but, I know you are here with me every day when I look out into my yard and see the cardinal sitting on my fence facing my back door.

While I did not have the luxury of a long term relationship with Reny, the friendship we built over the last two years was indeed of the highest quality. We spent some time playing slots together in the very beginning and then graduated to attending parties and dinners at the Santa Fe. Then came the accident, when I assumed the role of driver and Reny was the passenger. We enjoyed a lot of laughs on our visits to the Fe, and even later when we visited numerous doctors, etc. She especially liked to remind me of the day when I got lost, (I prefer to say I was taking alternative routes). It seems we passed the same Black Angus restaurant four times, according to Reny. (I only saw it three times, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.) But even in her worst moments she'd get that little twinkle in her eye and put up four fingers, one at a time, and we'd both laugh.

I treasure many moments we shared this past year, but two stand out in particular. One is when she finally returned to her own home, traveling with her wonderful sister and friend Char, in style, in a stretch limosine. She had a smile on her face the whole ride home. The second came when she took Rhonda, Denis and me to her favorite restaurant, Austin's at Texas Station. She couldn't eat, drink, swallow or speak, but she got her point across to everyone involved, and we all had a wonderful time. Following her 'suggestions', we especially enjoyed our salad and side dishes. And since she was treated like royalty by all the employees and staff, she again was wearing a beautiful smile.

She was a real friend to me, one of the kindest, most generous and considerate people I've ever had the pleasure to know. As well as her sense of humor, she also shared two of her most cherished family members with me, Rhonda and Char, and I will be forever grateful to her for that. I miss you, Reny, and love you with all my heart.

I always felt a close affinity for my sister-in-law Reny, from the beginning, ever since she first married John and joined our family. My thought at this point is that she was truly the glue that held our family together. I know now that I was personally hurt as much as anyone by the ending of their marriage.



This is no time for the "oughts" and the "ifs" trying to second guess destiny. All I can say is that when I was with her as a young person still trying to discovery myself, I always felt like the moment of life was taking place in the here and now whenever we discussed my options in life. I don't ever remember having those kinds of moments with anyone else in my family.



Reny, what I wish for you is transformation and joy in your union with the light of God for the rest of eternity.

I loved my Auntie Reny and have a lifetime of happy memories of her. I fondly recall her dressing my sister and me up in wrapping paper at Christmases when we were kids. Or her introducing me to Cocoa Puffs when I spent the night at her house.



I also recall the pride she took in me and in my professional accomplishments. For example, after I graduated from law school and got my first professional job, she made sure that I knew that she was a subscriber to the tax publication I edited. She always wanted to see a copy of whatever new book I'd just written. In fact, right before she died, she sent me a birthday card telling me how proud she has always been of me. I will forever treasure this final thoughtfulness.



Auntie Reny loved life and made the world more fun for those who knew her. This is a rare thing.



Now that I'm an aunt myself, I know that Auntie Reny was a perfect role model of a "fun aunt." When my own time comes, I can only hope that my own niece and nephew, 3-year old Jill and 1-year old John, will look back with as many happy memories of me as I am doing right now for my Auntie Reny.



Good-bye Auntie Reny. I'll miss you!!!

My sympathy to the Family. Reny was

a Great Lady and will be missed very much.

Were I asked to say a few words about Reny in a public forum, I would ask myself the question, "What one characteristic best describes Reny?" That is a hard question because Reny's essence cannot be reduced to a single quality. Digging deeply into my store of memories (and there are many -- going back to our early teenage years), what stood out then and continued to characterize Reny was the constancy of her loving, caring nature. No matter what the context or event, she would unfailingly do something to enrich the occasion -- bring happiness to the others in attendance. It might be extra snacks, a headache remedy, or lending a hand to lighten the burdens of others. To be helpful was always her priority and assigning herself to a secondary position the norm. Thoughtful, loving, caring, helpful, respectful, considerate, kind, tender, and warmhearted are adjectives that personify my friend, Reny. I might add that I am so proud of the courage that she exhibited during her illness. Although the opportunity presented itself on more than one occasion, not once did she cry about it with me, ask "Why me" or exhibit any sign of the inner sorrow that she must have felt. Nor did she show fear in the face of what was to come. These are the rare and admirable behaviors or reactions of some few "special people" and Reny was one of them. From my experiences of observing the recent sad events in her life, which, by the way, she did not allow to dilute her natural sense of humor, I have learned some important lessons that I can only hope to engage in the future if I need to.

To her daughter -- she was a shining example. To you, Rhonda and all the rest of the family, I offer my deepest sympathies for your/our loss. May you be comforted in the knowledge that Reny has left an extraordinary lasting impression on us all. You have much to draw from for solace.

Reny,my Sister, My Friend. Oh I will miss our bantering. I never won one but sure had fun trying. Reny was always My Big Sister. I never quite made it to Vegas for the Grand Tour, but an invitation was never needed to enter her home.

Our Deepest Sypathy goes to Reny's

Family. Reny was a part of our Family for over 50 years, Mom and Dad were her extended Family in Chicago as she was growing up. Mom and I were her extended Family

here in Las Vegas for over eight

years. Reny will be missed by Mom and I and also her Caregiver (ALLEN)

My former sister-in-law was a very friendly and a social woman. I always thought she lived life to the fullest. I had known her over 40 years and she has left me with many years of happy memories. I will miss her very much.