BURNT HILLS – Florence Chase Rentz age 94, a longtime resident of Townley Drive in Burnt Hills, and more recently at The Home of the Good Shepherd, passed away on Sunday, April 29, 2018, peacefully in her sleep.
Florence was born in Mechanicville, June 26, 1923, the daughter of the late Thomas J. Chase and Anna (Ruditis) Chase Tetzloff.
She was predeceased by her husband John Paul “Jack” Rentz, whom she married Aug. 20, 1946 at St Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Mechanicville. They enjoyed 63 years of marriage until his death on Sept. 1, 2009. She was also predeceased by brothers-in-laws Raymond Holmes, William Holmes, Jack Daley, sisters-in-law Margaret Daley Ryan and Cecile Holmes, and son-in-law Alex Gorski.
Florence is survived by her six children: Katherine Taylor and her husband Wedgwood, of Thermopolis Wyo., Anne Boger and her husband, Mark, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Jacqueline Gorski of Albany, Barbara Champagne and her husband Reginald of Kennebunk, Maine, Thomas Rentz and his wife, Joann, of Corinth, and Maribeth Barrell and her husband Eric of Marblehead, Mass. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Polly Holmes of Plattsburgh, and her brother-in-law Thomas Ryan of Mechanicville. She leaves ten beloved grandchildren: Jason ( Elwyn Clark ) and Justin (Andrea) Taylor, Christopher (Kirsten) and David (Mandy) Boger, Regina (Ryan) Piotrowski and Deanna Champagne, Tara (Matt) Silvaggio, Eric and Steven (Julie) Rentz, and Anna Barrell. In addition she is survived by ten great grand-children: Alexis, Brody, Travis, Elyse, Reid, Emmett, Margaux, Elliot, Alexander, and Jack. Numerous nieces, nephews, and godchildren also fondly remember her.
Florence attended St. Paul’s Parochial School and graduated from Mechanicville High School in 1940. She completed her undergraduate study at Immaculata College, PA in 1945. After having six children she continued her education by earning her graduate degree at State University of New York at Oneonta in 1962. In her early married years Flo taught at Albany City Schools and Ithaca Public Schools, and worked at Cornell University as a supervisor at Willard Straight. She and her husband moved to Burnt Hills in 1949, where she spent nearly 25 years as a kindergarten teacher at Charlton Heights and Stevens Elementary schools in the BH-BL school district. During her working years she was proud to have been awarded the PTA Lifetime Award. As a teacher, she epitomized the saying: “All I ever needed to know, I learned in Kindergarten.” As a mom, Florence was active in the PTA, her children’s activities in school, church, athletics, and scouting.
Flo was at one time active in the Burnt Hills Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. She was a communicant of the Church of the Immaculate Conception Church in Glenville. Previously she had taught religious education at Our Lady of Grace Church in Ballston Lake.
After leaving her home of 62 years, Flo became an active resident of at first, Millview Assisted Living of Latham, and then until her death, at The Home of the Good Shepherd in Wilton. The family would like to thank the wonderful staffs of both those facilities for their care and kindness.
Flo is most grateful to Rachel Winters, Father Connery and Father Jerry for their spiritual support.
Together Jack and Flo were popular landlords, first as house parents while students in Ithaca, and later as renters to over 100 student teachers in their Burnt Hills home. In her later years, Florence enjoyed spending time with her expanding family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Florence has donated her remains to the Albany Medical College’s Anatomical Gift program. Her hope is that the research will help others with the myopathy she struggled with.
A memorial mass will be held on Monday May 7, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Saratoga Road (Route 50) Glenville. The family will receive guests at the church from 9:30 – 10:45 am preceding the service. Florence will be buried, with her husband, at the convenience of the family, at the Gerald Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jack Rentz Scholarship Fund at the Corinth High School – with checks made in care of: Tom Rentz 5186 Route 9N Corinth, NY 12822 or The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Building Fund ; 400 Saratoga Road Glenville, NY 12302
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