Rena Victoria Franceschina Sarunich
February 28, 1934 - May 15, 2021
Obituary
February 28, 1934 – May 15, 2021
Rena passed away peacefully at Skyline Terraces in Seattle after a long convalescence following a stroke. She was a beloved resident there and the staff took amazing, loving care of her and her family.
Preceded in death by her parents, David and Maria Franceschina, brother, Angelo Franceschina and husband, Daniel Sarunich.
Rena is survived by daughter, Danella Anderson (Doug), granddaughter, Isabella Anderson, and sisters-in-law Theresa Sacco and Wanda Franceschina, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Rena grew up with her brother and parents in Renton, Washington surrounded by extended family and close friends. She had a very traditional Italian childhood and upbringing. She was a great athlete and graduated in 1952 from Renton High School. She started her career at Sears Roebuck in Renton. She then went to work in an administrative role at the FBI in downtown Seattle.
In 1965, she married Daniel Sarunich and had a daughter, Danella. The family lived in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle for over 50 years.
When Danella was 2, Rena went back to work at Hartford Insurance in Seattle and retired from there after 25 years of service.
Rena was an amazing wife and mother. She and her daughter were very close, spending much of their time alone together as Danny was a commercial fisherman and gone much of the year. They did everything together-shopping, dining out, traveling, and spending a lot of time with family including regular Sunday dinner at Rena’s mother’s in Renton where the entire family would gather and create amazing memories.
After enjoyable vacations to Disneyland, San Francisco and 2 trips to Hawaii with Danella, (and given Rena’s fear of flying) they started their annual summer tradition of driving to Lake Chelan every July. To this day, Danella and her daughter and their friends continue the tradition in her honor.
Not long after retiring from the Hartford, she became a full-time devoted grandmother (Nona) to Isabella Maria and saw her every day of her life. When Danella went back to work, Rena added daycare provider to her life resume. All would agree, that defined and completed her. She and Bella were also alone a lot until Danny (Papa) retired and then the 3 of them filled their days with whatever Bella wanted. Their relationship was the thing fairytales are made of and will be treasured for lifetimes to come.
Gifts in Rena’s name may be made to Skyline Fund at Transforming Age Foundation www.skylineseattle.org/give
Rena’s life will be celebrated June 9 at 11:30 AM-St Anne Catholic Church , 1411 1st Ave W Seattle, WA followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery, 5041 35th Ave NE, Seattle WA and a reception at Palisades, 2601 W Marina Pl. Seattle WA.