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December 29, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Thursday, January 2, 2014 from 7-9 PM and on Friday, January 3, 2014 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.
Services will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 9:00 AM from the funeral home, then to Saint Ann Melkite Catholic Church, 802 Rifle Camp Road, Woodland Park, for a 10:00 AM funeral service. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa.
Renee Marjorie Sekula (nee Coussa), age 67, of Wayne, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Sunday, December 29, 2013.
The daughter of the late John and Mary (Abdelnour) Coussa, Renee was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. She graduated from St. John’s Cathedral High School where she was a cheerleader and placed third in the National Latin Competition. Following high school, she attended William Paterson College.
Renee met her loving husband, Joseph G. Sekula, while working in her parents’ store on Main Street in Paterson. Joseph would come in frequently, pretending to read the magazines that were for sale but never buying any. The reality was that he really liked Renee and wanted to ask her out. He eventually got his wish! Renee and Joseph married on June 19, 1966 and they moved to Wayne in 1970. They were blessed with forty-seven years of married life together, especially enjoying family vacations to Kiawah Island, South Carolina and cruises on the seven seas, especially enjoying the Caribbean, South America & the Panama Canal and the Mediterranean.
After taking a break from her studies to marry and start a family, Renee returned to finish her degree in 1975, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Education. She began a career in real estate in 1983 with Schlott Realtors and then Coldwell Banker in Wayne. She enjoyed an illustrious career, becoming a multi-million dollar producer, earning the honors of the New Jersey Million Dollar Sales Club and the Coldwell Banker President's Club. She was an active member of the Passaic County Board of Realtors, New Jersey Board of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors, as well as the Garden State, New Jersey, Hudson County and Middlesex County Multiple Listing Services.
Renee was a devoted member of St. Ann Melkite Catholic Church. She served the church lovingly and selflessly, serving as President of the Rosary Society and founding the church's summer enrichment program. She served as the Chairperson for the 45th National Melkite Convention and organized countless events for the church. For her efforts she was named Parishioner of Honor in 2005. Her devotion to her faith saw her receive the initial Archbishop Joseph Tawil Award by the Diocese of Newton and, in 2002, she was awarded the ultimate honor for a Melkite, the Cross of Jerusalem by Gregory, III Laham, Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch.
Renee was extremely devoted to her family! She was very proud of her three children’s success and was a loving “Sitto” to her ten grandchildren whom she cherished with all her heart. To her great-niece and great-nephew, she was affectionately referred to as “Auntie Sitto.” Renee will be remembered for her kind, generous and selfless spirit that was evident to her family and friends.
Renee is survived by her beloved husband of 47 years, Joseph; her two sons: Joseph of San Francisco, CA, and Jeffrey and wife Kristin of New Hartford, NY; her daughter, Jennifer and husband Keith Martin of Wayne; her ten cherished and adored grandchildren: Treven, Jonquil, Julianne, Marshall, Joseph, Madeline, Emmaline, Savannah, Caroline, and Annabelle; her sisters Adrianne Kattak of Wayne and Patricia Tahan of Wayne; her brother, John E. Coussa of Florida; and her devoted nieces Susan Kattak Brandstetter, Diana Kattak Mercado and Joanne Kattak Rossi. She was predeceased by her brother George Coussa in June 2008.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Thursday, January 2, 2014 from 7-9 PM and on Friday, January 3, 2014 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.
Services will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 9:00 AM from the funeral home, then to Saint Ann Melkite Catholic Church, 802 Rifle Camp Road, Woodland Park, for a 10:00 AM funeral service. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa.
December 29, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Thursday, January 2, 2014 from 7-9 PM and on Friday, January 3, 2014 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.
Services will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 9:00 AM from the funeral home, then to Saint Ann Melkite Catholic Church, 802 Rifle Camp Road, Woodland Park, for a 10:00 AM funeral service. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa.
Renee Marjorie Sekula (nee Coussa), age 67, of Wayne, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Sunday, December 29, 2013.
The daughter of the late John and Mary (Abdelnour) Coussa, Renee was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. She graduated from St. John’s Cathedral High School where she was a cheerleader and placed third in the National Latin Competition. Following high school, she attended William Paterson College.
Renee met her loving husband, Joseph G. Sekula, while working in her parents’ store on Main Street in Paterson. Joseph would come in frequently, pretending to read the magazines that were for sale but never buying any. The reality was that he really liked Renee and wanted to ask her out. He eventually got his wish! Renee and Joseph married on June 19, 1966 and they moved to Wayne in 1970. They were blessed with forty-seven years of married life together, especially enjoying family vacations to Kiawah Island, South Carolina and cruises on the seven seas, especially enjoying the Caribbean, South America & the Panama Canal and the Mediterranean.
After taking a break from her studies to marry and start a family, Renee returned to finish her degree in 1975, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Education. She began a career in real estate in 1983 with Schlott Realtors and then Coldwell Banker in Wayne. She enjoyed an illustrious career, becoming a multi-million dollar producer, earning the honors of the New Jersey Million Dollar Sales Club and the Coldwell Banker President's Club. She was an active member of the Passaic County Board of Realtors, New Jersey Board of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors, as well as the Garden State, New Jersey, Hudson County and Middlesex County Multiple Listing Services.
Renee was a devoted member of St. Ann Melkite Catholic Church. She served the church lovingly and selflessly, serving as President of the Rosary Society and founding the church's summer enrichment program. She served as the Chairperson for the 45th National Melkite Convention and organized countless events for the church. For her efforts she was named Parishioner of Honor in 2005. Her devotion to her faith saw her receive the initial Archbishop Joseph Tawil Award by the Diocese of Newton and, in 2002, she was awarded the ultimate honor for a Melkite, the Cross of Jerusalem by Gregory, III Laham, Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch.
Renee was extremely devoted to her family! She was very proud of her three children’s success and was a loving “Sitto” to her ten grandchildren whom she cherished with all her heart. To her great-niece and great-nephew, she was affectionately referred to as “Auntie Sitto.” Renee will be remembered for her kind, generous and selfless spirit that was evident to her family and friends.
Renee is survived by her beloved husband of 47 years, Joseph; her two sons: Joseph of San Francisco, CA, and Jeffrey and wife Kristin of New Hartford, NY; her daughter, Jennifer and husband Keith Martin of Wayne; her ten cherished and adored grandchildren: Treven, Jonquil, Julianne, Marshall, Joseph, Madeline, Emmaline, Savannah, Caroline, and Annabelle; her sisters Adrianne Kattak of Wayne and Patricia Tahan of Wayne; her brother, John E. Coussa of Florida; and her devoted nieces Susan Kattak Brandstetter, Diana Kattak Mercado and Joanne Kattak Rossi. She was predeceased by her brother George Coussa in June 2008.
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