Marie "Renee" (Pellegrino) Rodriguez, age 91, passed peacefully on December 5, 2020, at Our Lady of Peace Nursing Care Residence in Lewiston, New York. Born in Niagara Falls, New York, she was the daughter of the late Floyd and Anna (DeNitto) Pellegrino, who adored their only child.

Renee was a lifelong resident of Niagara Falls and attended local schools. She graduated in 1947 from Niagara Falls High School, where she was a stellar student and formed several close friendships that continued to thrive well into her later years.  After high school, Renee worked as a secretary at the United Office Building, putting her impressive typing and shorthand skills to good use. As a young woman, she was known as a shy, smart, and humorous beauty, making friends easily.

In 1950, Renee married her junior-high-school sweetheart Sebastian "Jay" Rodriguez at St. Joseph's Church in Niagara Falls. They soon settled in to their new home to raise a family. Renee was a wonderful, deeply caring wife and mother, and nothing made her happier than cooking for her family, spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and enjoying the company of her close neighbors on Haeberle Avenue.

Renee loved the holidays and family get-togethers, spending hours cooking and preparing for the annual family reunions, picnics, and large holiday dinners. She was the typical Italian mom who placed her family first before anything else. Like most Italian mothers, she was happiest when family and friends were over so that she could spend time in her kitchen preparing the traditional meals that put smiles on everyone's faces. She made the best meatballs, and her mountains of assorted Christmas cookies were legendary. Renee was also famous for the special Care Packages she lovingly packed and shipped to her out-of-state children, so they could enjoy home-cooked meals and memories.

As a child, Renee was elegantly dressed by her mother, and even into her latest years at Our Lady of Peace, she always looked beautiful, with her colorful coordinated outfits, styled hair, and matching lipstick and nail polish—especially under the loving, watchful eyes of her son, Rick.

Renee and Jay's partnership, commitment, and dedication to each other endured over their 70-year marriage. In 2015, when Renee made the transition to advanced caretaking at Our Lady of Peace, her beloved husband visited with her daily, and her eyes never failed to light up as she would see him walking in from the parking lot.

Renee was kind, generous, and loved by many, and will be missed by all who knew her. In addition to her devoted husband, Renee is survived by her five children, Robert (Judy) Rodriguez, Dona (Scott) LeyVa, Richard (Darleen) Rodriguez, David (Annette) Rodriguez, and Deborah Rodriguez; her grandchildren, Michael (Dominika Tanianis) Rodriguez, Erica Rodriguez-Russo, Shannon (David) Knight, Matthew (Michelle) Donovan, Jason Salhab, Jonathan LeyVa, Katherine Rodriguez, and Lauren Rodriguez; and her great-grandchildren Zackery Knight, Maximillian Rodriguez, Riley Knight, and AnnaMarie Russo; along with numerous cousins and in-laws.

Renee's family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses and staff on 2 West at Our Lady of Peace for their respectful and compassionate care of her. Renee's family was consistently told that she was one of the most beloved residents, always kind and friendly with staff as well as other residents.

Renee's Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 10 at 12 Noon, Holy Family Parish at St. Joseph Church, 1413 Pine Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY 14301. Everyone please assemble at church.  Private entombment in Riverdale Cemetery, Lewiston, NY.  Flowers are graciously declined. Memorials in Renee's name may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association, https://www.apdaparkinson.org/1907d3l/ . Arrangements by M.J. COLUCCI & SON NIAGARA FUNERAL CHAPEL.  Visit mjcoluccifuneralchapel.com for online condolences