Renee Calabrese

Renee Caldwell Calabrese, age 80, of Erie passed away Friday, January 12, 2018 at St. Mary’s Home East. She was born March 26, 1937 in Oil City, PA the daughter of the late Harry and Rita Fasenmyer Caldwell.

A longtime resident of Erie, she had worked at General Electric and later retired from the administration office at the Northwest PA Technical Institute.

She had also worked in the rectories of Holy Cross Church in Fairview where she taught CCD classes and St. Patrick’s Church in Erie. At St. Patrick’s, she was an Eucharistic minister, volunteered at their festivals, and belonged to the Ave Maria Society. She also made several Cursillos, volunteered at St. Vincent Hospital and St. Mary’s Home and participated in several Relay for Life events. She had ministered at the women’s prison in Cambridge Springs and in 2008 was named One of the Women making History in Erie County. Because of her volunteerism in her church and the community, she received the honor of Knight and Lady of St. Patrick in 1995 from Bishop Michael J. Murphy and later served on the board of that organization for many years.

She loved helping others, but was most proud of her two sons and her beloved grandchildren.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald J. Calabrese.

Renee is survived by two sons, Michael Calabrese and his wife Christina and Christopher Calabrese and is wife Danielle She is the sister of Patricia Cropek of Walworth, NY; Carol Hartwell of Troy, MI; Terry Caldwell and Jim Caldwell and his wife Karen, all of Erie. She is the grandmother of Donovan Pierce, Nathan Calabrese, Nancy Lazeski, and Christine Calabrese and is further survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Renee’s children would like to thank the staff and caregivers at St. Mary’s Home East for the wonderful care they provided to their mother during her stay with them.

Friends are invited to call at the Quinn Funeral Home, West 9^th & Liberty St. on Wednesday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM and are invited to attend Prayer Services there Thursday at 9:30 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM in St. Patrick Catholic Church. Burial will be in Trinity Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2115 West 38^th St., Erie, PA 16508.