Rena Stern, 88

Rena K. Stern of Boca Raton, Florida, formerly of East Greenwich, died peacefully at home on Nov. 18.

Mrs. Stern was born in Aschenhausen, Germany to Julius and Sophie (Schoen) Katzenstein.  Rena, her parents and brother, Jerry Katzenstein, escaped Nazi Germany in 1937 and lived in Washington Heights in Manhattan.  She attended Hunter High School and Hunter College and was the first person in her family to graduate college.

Rena married Henry Stern when she was barely 18.  They enjoyed almost 70 years of marriage.

She worked as an elementary school teacher before her children were born.  She later worked with her husband in the jewelry company he started, Renclif, before retiring to Florida in 1998.  

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her three sons, Cliff and his wife, Karen of Pawtucket; Ken and his wife, Michele, of Newton, Massachusetts,  and Gordon and his wife, Barbara, of Rockville Center, New York, and four grandchildren: Jonathan, Laura, William and Gabriel.  She is also survived by her nephew, Randy Katzenstein of New Rochelle, New York.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the charity of your choice.