Renee Wardyn

Rita Renee Wardyn, 81, of Loup City, died Friday, Sept. 26, 2014, at CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Josaphat's Catholic Church in Loup City. The Rev. Marty Egging will officiate. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of Loup City is in charge of the arrangements. Mrs. Wardyn was born on Sept. 1, 1933, at Litchfield, the daughter of Matt and Mary (Baker) Woitalewicz. She is survived by six sons and daughters-in-law, Steven and Dawn Wardyn of Grand Island, John and Denise Wardyn of Wichita, KS, Leonard and Marcia Wardyn of Farwell, Ron and Linda Wardyn of Loup City, Pete and Deb Wardyn of Cozad and Mike and Ann Wardyn of Grand Island; seven daughters and five sons-in-law, Kathy and Dick Kohel of Lincoln, Marcia and Jim Leonard of Kearney, Mary Jo Colorafi of Scottsdale, AZ, Linda Alexander of Columbus, Sharon and Doug Day of Loup City, Theresa and Kevin Jorgensen of St. Paul and Marge and Larry Kemling of Columbus; and a sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Bryan Hall of Ravenna. She is also survived by 37 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren; and four sisters-in-law, Janet Woitalewicz of Loup City, Irene Woitalewicz of Farwell, Caroline Mazankowski of Loup City and Donna Wardyn of Loup City. Renee grew up in the Loup City area and attended St. Josaphat's parochial school and Loup City High School. She was united in marriage to Ralph S. Wardyn on Sept. 12, 1949, at Loup City. The couple farmed north of Loup City, later moving to Hazard and then Litchfield. They then moved to the family farm south of Loup City, where all their children were raised. Renee grew a big garden that she used for fresh produce and canning. She was also a wonderful cook and enjoyed baking bread, pies and pierogies. In 1985, the couple retired and moved into Loup City. In 2011, the couple moved to Rose Lane Home. Ralph died on Aug. 26, 2013, and Renee continued to live at Rose Lane the rest of her life. She was a member of St. Josaphat's Catholic Church and the Council of Catholic Women and Rosary Sodality. Renee enjoyed playing cards, BINGO, and crocheting, having made each of her grandchildren and many of her great-grandchildren afghans. In addition to her husband, Ralph, she was preceded in death by her parents; infant daughter, Janis Lynn Wardyn; infant son, Lawrence Howard Wardyn; sister, Mary Frances Woitalewicz; and two brothers, Melvin and Richard Woitalewicz. Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.