Obituary of Sr. Jewel Renna, CND

Sister Jewel Renna (Sister Mary Michael of the Cross), a Sister of the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal, died on December 22, 2019 at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, CT. Born in Waterbury in 1928 to Michael George Renna and Mary (Gallo) Renna, Jewel graduated from Sts. Peter and Paul School and Waterbury Catholic High, before obtaining a B.A. in Mathematics from the College of New Rochelle in 1950. She then entered the Novitiate of the Congregation of Notre Dame in Montreal, Quebec and professed vows in 1953. She later obtained a professional certificate in Mathematics Education from Columbia University and M.A. degrees in Philosophy and Theology from Fordham University and Boston College, respectively. Sister Jewel was a quintessential teacher. From the time of her profession until 1987 she taught mostly Mathematics at Villa Maria Academy in the Bronx, Notre Dame College of Staten Island, NY, Stamford Catholic High School, and St. Mary’s School in Providence, RI, before returning to Waterbury in 1971. There, at Notre Dame Academy, she continued teaching both Mathematics and Religion and also served as campus minister until 1987. In that year she began serving as Coordinator of Adult Education for the Archdiocese of Hartford, which she considered the highlight of her teaching ministry. She took special pride in the establishment of the Catholic Biblical School, and she continued to teach for that program after she retired as director. Many adult students benefited from her insight into and her great love for the Bible. Sister Jewel was predeceased by her parents. She will be missed by her cousins and other family members as well as by the Sisters of the Congregation. A wake will be held at Villa Notre Dame, in Wilton, CT on Friday, December 27, 2019 from 9:00 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m., and burial in Calvary Cemetery, Waterbury.