Rena Paccione

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Rena Gaeta Paccione, who died peacefully at home in Greenwich, CT on Thursday, October 21st, 2021 at the age of 98.

Originally from Firmo, in Calabria Italy, Rena came to the US at the age of six speaking only Albanian. Fifteen years later, she graduated from Hunter College summa cum laude with a degree in biology and a double major in languages, speaking four fluently. Whatever Rena took on she excelled at. After brief professional stints in a microbiology lab and as a biology teacher at Stuyvesant High, Rena met Jerry, the love of her life and brother of one of her best friends, Felicia, and her life turned to family. To her, family meant everything. She was a loving and devoted mother to her three children and surrogate mother to all who needed one.

In her younger days, some of Rena’s favorite hobbies included cooking, vacationing with her husband and friends, and playing tennis and golf. As an avid golf player, she won several competitions. But most notably, she enjoyed the great camaraderie she shared with her many lifelong friends.

Rena’s later life was rocked by tragedy and hardship with the loss of her daughter Karen to breast cancer, and her loving husband to Parkinson’s. She endured throughout, a pillar of quiet resolve, drawing sustenance from those around her that she loved so deeply. She was a passionate and vibrant woman with an impeccable fashion sense, strong opinions and a wealth of knowledge and advice. When recently asked about the secret to a happy life she replied, “You don’t find happiness, you make it.” She will be deeply missed.

Rena is survived by her 2 sons, Jerry and Jeff Paccione, both physicians, and their wives, Karen and Maria; her grandchildren Katherine Sotzing and husband Andrew and their children Luke and Zoe, and Jeff and Matthew Monjello and Mathew’s wife and daughter, Micaela and Eloise and an extended family across the country of Gaetas, Pacciones, Beddinis, OliverSmiths, and Jurys.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leopgallaghergreenwich.com for the Paccione family.