Rena Rago

Rena Rago (December 16 cite news |first=|last=|title= Obituaries :: Bolingbrook Sun :: Milestones|url=http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/bolingbrooksun/news/milestones/578278,6_1_NA28_BSOBITS_S1.article|work= Bolingbrook Sun |publisher=|date=2007-09-28 |accessdate=2007-10-26] , 1921 – September 27, 2007) was an American teacher, artist and painter.

Rena Rago was born Rena M. Rogers in Clinton, Oklahoma but moved with her family to Colorado whe she was 11. cite news |first=|last=|title= Rena Rago: 1921 - 2007 'Country girl' became teacher, artist in Romeoville|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/northwest/chi-hed_ragooct03,1,2375808.story|work= Chicago Tribune |publisher=|date=2007-10-03 |accessdate=2007-10-26] At 17, she moved alone to Chicago and worked a variety of jobs before meeting and marrying chemist James Rago in 1941.

A self-described "country girl with little education," Rago decided to further it when she was in her 40s by earning a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in art at Governors State University. Rago thus taught art in the Romeoville/Bolingbrook school district for many years as well as being a private tutor. She also was a professional artist, specializing in oil paintings. She once had a solo exhibition at Governors State University and was included in many group shows at galleries around Illinois. Her work is in many private collections.

Rena Rago died at Lakewood Center in Plainfield, Illinois on September 27, 2007 at the age of 85, of complications of a stroke. She is survived by three daughters, Bella Zielinski, Mary (husband Larry) Kreczmer and Sharon Barrett (Stephen Coates); grandchildren, Renee, Noreen and Barry; great-grandchildren, Matthew, Katherine, Marisa and Layne. She was preceded in death by her husband James, in 1988; son-in-law, Jack Zielinski; and her parents, Eugene and Mary Rogers.

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