Rena V. Chesi, 91, passed away Saturday, Feb. 9, 2002, at the Harlingen Nursing Center in Harlingen, TX. A native of Lockman, Monroe County, Iowa, she was born Caterina Vercellino on Oct. 30, 1910, the oldest daughter of the late Antonio and Teresa Vercellino. She grew up in Pershing, Iowa, where the family owned a general store. After living in Grimes, Iowa for several years and then working at an ammunition plant in Ankey, Iowa, she moved in 1942 to Chicago to join her older brother in the restaurant business. She became the owner of several restaurants, the last one located at 209 S. Dearborn St. in Chicago. In 1958 she left to open an A & W Drive-In in Des Moines, Iowa, located on Army Post Rd. She retired in 1975 and eventually moved near her daughter in Harlingen, TX in 1990. She is survived by one sister, Dorene McConnell of Indianola, Iowa; a daughter, Teresa Laura (Myron) Schultz, of Harlingen, TX; sons, Robert W. (Harriet) Chesi, of Alexandria, VA and Raymond E. (Diane) Chesi, of Lombard, IL; four grandchildren, Anita McBroom Bernard, of Edinburg, TX, S. George (Janet) McBroom, of Crete, IL, Bryan Chesi and Adam Chesi, of Lombard, IL; three great-grandchildren; and several nephews and nieces. No local services will be held. Funeral services will be held in Des Moines, Iowa by the Tonini Funeral Home with burial in the family plot in Knoxville, Iowa. Local arrangements with Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
