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Noyac resident Dorothy M. Renna died on July 3 at the Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. She was 92.
Ms. Renna was born on September 21, 1920, in Charlestown, Massachusetts, to Mary (née Mullen) and Patrick McDevitt. She grew up in Charlestown, where she enjoyed swimming and ice skating. She attended business school and was a skillful typist. A strong swimmer, as a teenager she rescued another girl from drowning.
Ms. Renna summered in Noyac for more than 40 years before moving there permanently in 2002. She had previously resided in Delray Beach, Florida, for 15 years.
During World War II, she served in the U.S. Marines at Camp Lejeune. She was a columnist for the Spectator newspaper. After the war, she married Army Captain Anthony W. Renna, DDS, and they soon moved to his place of birth, Brooklyn. She spent most of her life in Brooklyn, where she learned the art of Italian-style cooking, but never forgot her Irish roots, her survivors said. She volunteered a great deal of her time to St. Bernadette’s Church, the local Democratic Club and community affairs, also serving as president of the Rosary Society, Sacred Heart Society and the Lioness Club.
According to survivors, Ms. Renna had a great many friends every place she lived and enjoyed social activities such as dinner parties and travel with friends, bingo and bowling. She was a redhead who had a ready laugh and smile, a good sense of humor and strong spirit, they said. One of her great joys was cooking and baking for her grandchildren. She was thrilled to have great-grandchildren, her family said.
Ms. Renna was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, and two brothers, John and Jim.
She is survived by two daughters, Patricia Cartelli and husband James of Manhattan, and Rosemarie Tirone and husband Charles of Kentucky; a son, Michael of Southampton; six grandchildren, Trisha, Christopher, Marissa, Regan, Corinne and Justin; and three great-grandchildren, Kira, James and Devyn.
Visitation was on Friday, July 5, at the O’Connell Funeral Home in Southampton. A memorial Mass was said on Saturday, July 6, at the Basilica Parish of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Southampton. Interment followed with military honors at Calverton National Cemetery.
on Jul 5, 2013