Rena Stanczak, 88, of Hurley, died Wednesday morning, July 15, 2009, surrounded by her loving family, in Hurley. The former Rena DeRosso was born Feb. 19, 1921, in Hurley, daughter of the late John and Theresa (DeRosso) DeRosso, and attended the Cary School. She was united in marriage to Walter Stanczak on June 22, 1940, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, by the the late Rev. Peter Meyer. Walter preceded her in death on Jan. 18, 1990. Rena worked at Paul's Store in Hurley for many years and was employed as a desk clerk at the Sandpiper Motel in Ironwood for a number of years. She retired as a clerk at the Brite Spot Liquor Store in Hurley in 1986. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, the Red Hat Society, and the Birthday Club. She bowled in Range area leagues in her younger years, and loved going to the casino, playing cards, traveling and dancing to polka music. An excellent cook, her passion was cooking her favorite Italian specialties for her family. A people person, Rena had a fervent zest for life that she shared with her family and many friends. Surviving are her son, Rodney (Marcia), Wausau; two daughters, Marsha (Paul) Pinzuti, Dousman, and Theresa (Gary) Giancola, Hurley; seven grandchildren, Cathy (Dave) Sayles, Nashotah, Bart Pinzuti, East Troy, Todd Pinzuti, Minneapolis, Michele (Tim) Pronley, Edina, Minn., Brett Stanczak, Lake Geneva, Stephanie (Shaun) McGrath, West Bend, and Alaina Giancola, Gile; eight great-grandchildren, Nolan, Jake, Emma, Hayden, Braxton, Madison, Hadlei and Kamryn; a brother, Bruno DeRosso, Ironwood; three sisters, Delia Johnson, Cary Location, Hurley, Rose Obradovich, Phoenix, Ariz., and Erma Romanowski, Hurley; a special friend, Micheline Oleszczuk, Sun Lakes, Ariz.; and numerous nieces and nephews and many, many good friends. Besides her parents and husband, Rena was preceded in death by a brother, Albino DeRosso, and sister, Rita Johnson. Due to the road construction surrounding St. Mary's Church in Hurley, a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood on Monday, July 20, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Michael Hayden, celebrant. Rite of Committal and interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley. A luncheon reception will be held at the Liberty Bell Chalet in Hurley immediately upon return from the cemetery. Relatives and friends may call in the St.Joseph Family Room at Our Lady of Peace Church from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday. Pallbearers will be Jake, Nolan and Dave Sayles, Brett Stanczak, Bart Pinzuti and Shaun McGrath. To view Rena's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc. of Ironwood.