Rena (DeClemente) Annese, 96 of Plainville passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at the Life Care Center in Attleboro, MA after a very brief illness.

Born in Mansfield on March 25, 1926 she was the devoted daughter of Louis and Helen (Cutillo) DeClemente.  Rena attended Mansfield High School where she played on the basketball team and graduated in 1944.  She also knew how to play the piano and accordion.  After high school Rena graduated from Wilfred Beautician and Hair Academy in 1945.  Rena was predeceased by her husband Francis “Dan” Annese, her high school sweetheart for 71 years in September 23, 2018. 

Rena worked for Ralph’s Beauty Salon in North Attleboro and Musto’s Beauty Salon in Mansfield.  Later she worked part time as a cashier for Mansfield A&P, Fernandes Supermarket in Mansfield and Superplace Market.

Together with their family they enjoyed many years of tennis and friends at Bearcroft Tennis and Swim Club in Attleboro.  Dan and Rena retired in 2000 to the warm climate of Green Valley, AZ  where they could play their  favorite sport, tennis and all the many activities of a busy retirement community.  They moved back east in April 2018 to be close to family because of Dan’s failing health.  To know Rena was to love her.  She made friends wherever she went and was kind to all.

Rena is survived by her two children, Robert Annese of Mt. Vernon, Maine and Cathy Herrick and her husband, Neal of Mansfield.  She has 3 grandchildren, Jennifer Annese of West Newbury, MA, Stephen Annese of Barrington, RI, and Chelsea Sylvain of Topsham, ME.  She is also survived by 5 great grandchildren, Olivia Clegg, Nicholas Annese and Chace, Nash and Emerson Sylvain.

A memorial mass will be held at St. Mary’s Church, 330 Pratt St., (Rt. 106) Mansfield on Tuesday April 4, 2023 beginning at 10AM.   Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.  Calling hours are omitted.

In lieu of flowers , Rena requests donations in her memory be made to St. Jude Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105.