Rene T. Pelles

Rene T. Pelles (formerly Rene T. Thompson McManus), born February 23, 1939, in Tampa, Florida, passed away peacefully on September 27, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. Rene, affectionately known as "Mammy", was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, whose warmth, strength, kindness, and indomitable spirit touched the lives of everyone she met.

A longtime resident of Waynesboro, Georgia, and Stow, Massachusetts, Rene was known for her positive outlook, her appreciation for all of life's blessings, and her unwavering dedication to friends and family. She spent many years as a successful interior decorator, where in her middle years she met the love of her life, retired Air Force Major Joseph S. "Joe" Pelles. The two married in 1988 and lived happily at the house in Stow until Joe's passing in 2001. From a prior marriage to retired Army Lieutenant Eugene J. McManus, Jr., of Columbia, SC, Rene was gifted with three loving sons, Eugene J. McManus III, Peyton M. McManus, and Porter T. McManus, all of whom survive her.

Rene was a kind, generous, and caring soul - a true southern gentlelady. She loved to sing, dance, and laugh, and she always saw the best in people, rarely uttering a harsh word against anyone. She was helpful to those less fortunate, and genuinely happy for those more so. She loved to be outdoors, surrounded by nature's beauty and all of God's creatures, and she made a point to pass this appreciation and respect for life on to her sons.

Rene is survived by her three children; by her three grandchildren, Porter M. McManus, Emerson R. McManus, and Peyton E. McManus; by her brother, Wall T. Thompson IV; and by her loving sister, Anna M. Thompson, who lived with and cared for her during her final years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wall Tatnall Thompson III and Lidie Nesbitt Thompon of Waynesboro, Georgia.

A funeral mass and celebration of Rene's life will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the Saint Benedict Abbey in Harvard, Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org).

Rene will be deeply missed, but her spirit and legacy of love, kindness, and generosity will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.