Wanted to write down a few memories from our trips to Chicago. I don't remember when we starting taking our annual trip (maybe the year Renee and Paul got engaged?), but we did it every year for over 25 years (except 2003 when I got married and Paige was born). I wish I had written down the details of every trip each year - they've blurred together. A few memories:
- Our first year we stayed at the Palmer House Hilton, which had a very fancy lobby. Before heading to the airport on Sunday, we took over a corner of the lobby and essentially unpacked and repacked our suitcases right there to try to fit in all of our purchases. We got a few looks! Packing at the end of the weekend was a challenge every year. We had to sit on our suitcases to close them most years.
- We ate our Friday night dinner at the Cheesecake Factory every year. 100s of restaurants within walking distance and that's where we ate every year. And we had the spinach artichoke dip appetizer every year. We both loved traditions.
- We met Shelly for dinner on Saturday night and did try different restaurants for that dinner. One of our favorites was tapas at Quartino's. Our conversations usually got a little racy at some point during the dinner, and we made more than one waiter blush over the years!
- One year, Renee brought some scented room spray but didn't read the label before spraying it in our tiny hotel room. She used 5 or 6 pumps of spray when the label said 1-2. We could barely breathe in the room and had to prop the door open for an hour or so to get the room livable again.
- We would have similar conversations every year - how to balance being a working mom, raising girls, keeping our marriages strong, taking care of ourselves. Every year we would both make plans/resolutions for the upcoming year and would promise to keep each other accountable. And then next year, we would laugh and do it all over again with the same plans. But there was no judgment.
- We spent a lot of time trying to figure out when was the best time to get our Garrett's popcorn to minimize our waiting time.
- Renee turned all of the decision making over to me on these trips. She usually booked the hotels with her points, but could never remember where we were staying or which way to turn on Michigan Ave to get to our favorite stores. I used to wonder how a GE executive could not remember the details on this trip. She told me that this weekend was her time to let someone else be in charge and take care of everything. That was my gift to her.
- One of her guilty pleasures was pop magazines like People and Us. I had a People magazine subscription for a few years and I would bring her old issues. She would spend the first evening sitting in her hotel bed poring through those magazines. We used to joke that even in our late 20s/early 30s we were old ladies - back in our hotel room before 9pm. The night would be complete if we got Starbucks on our way back to the hotel and could find a Hallmark Christmas movie on TV.
Miss Renee. I was so fortunate to have had here in my life. Every time I did her hair, she was ask if I was going to mess it up. With the side eye and smile. Then her laugh. I would just tell her the “of course I am”. Then we walk talk about anything and everything. She always came in with a mission. Just like her life. That spirit of hers will always live on. She loved her family, SO much. She will never leave you. I miss her. But, love and strength to the 3 of y’all😘
Sending my deepest and sincerest condolences on the loss of Renee. I have so many fond memories of Renee, and I consider her one of my my most influential mentors, both professionally and personally. On the professional side, I first remember meeting Renee as she just re-joined GE Power Services as the leader of F-Class product marketing. She bounced into the office, in a beautiful red dress, blonde curls and some distinguishing and fun jewelry. I wasn't sure if I should aspire to have her stunning sense of fashion, her vibrance, or her brains. Shortly into our professional relationship I knew that she knew her way "through the woods (ie the GE organization), and had many trusted business partnership, relationships and networks at every angle. She quickly scooped me under her wing (along with Krista St. George), and did everything she could possibly do to elevate me. She would grab me and take me to leadership meetings, she'd pull me to the side to offer "undercover" advice, she would pull me in for deep dive brainstorming sessions (Renee could generate a looooooooooong list of ideas in a matter of minutes. If you take her meeting minutes, you better type fast), and she would demonstrate how to succeed and be respected as a woman in a man's world. She commanded respect from the boardroom to the halls of the executives, managers, and workers on every floor.
Beyond the professional aspect of our relationship, I was so very deeply touched on how Renee and Paige (and Sara, in spirit) reached out to me to help me with my babies post traumatic divorce. The fact that Renee would dedicate a portion of her free time (after likely not much free time after work) to help me was one of the most touching things that someone could do for me. Renee loaded Paige up in the car to drive up to my house and watch the girls ( Camille (2 years old), and Olivia (6 months old)) so that I could get some much needed "me time." She would invite the girls over so that Paige could play with them in the basement if I had an extracurricular event, and I remember that Renee would always have an ear on Paige making sure that she was the best caregiver to my baby girls that she could be. I knew that I wanted to raise my 2 girls the same way that Renee has raised her 2 girls. Despite her busy work life, she cut out serious time in her schedule to nurture, coach, mentor, cheer-on, and ultimately have fun with her two beautiful babies. She reminded me constantly that time flies, especially when you're having fun. To Paige and Sara- rest assured that the example that your mom has been able set for you has built you a foundation that will take you through this life. She was a tremendous individual and I can see both of you walking in her footsteps because of the example she has set for you.
Now, for the fun story. I fondly remember the time when Renee stuffed (literally stuffed) a MASSIVE bag of Christmas gifts in my desk. I opened my desk drawer, to find a cute little "Santa Sack" that was bright red with mistletoe print tied up with green ribbon and stuffed to the brim with gifts. It came with a note that she was gifting me the 12 days of Christmas. She mentioned a tradition where I should open 1 gift per day until Christmas day to celebrate the holiday. Newly divorced, with no family in town, she took her girls out to buy me all kinds of cute gifts that I would never have thought of giving myself (she mentioned this was one of her favorite things to do - buying little gifts with her girls). The bag had a journal (Renee always had a cute journal on hand), chocolate, lotions and soaps, and other gifts that encouraged me and helped me keep going during a difficult time. Renee and I have something in common, we both love giving gifts :)
Finally, and most importantly, Renee was a beautiful woman of God. Her ability to love other people was so inspiring, especially when she was ill and she could have spent time focusing on herself. She always looked out for happiness beyond herself, and the way that Renee and Paul partnered in this mission was also very inspiring. Renee and Paul are just a beautiful example of Christ uniting two people to love each other and to use that love to minister to other couples. Amazing.
I was really devastated to hear the news about Renee passing, our communication became more infrequent as I knew she was full speed ahead focusing on her health. Looking back at some of the last texts I sent her, my final words on Earth would remain the same (from Nov. 2020):
"Praise God you are also in the best hands ever - His hands" I admire your perseverance and reliance on Gods plan for you life. There is no better legacy to leave the world with. Everything in this life is temporary and we just need to live with the Faith and the Hope that our eternal life rests with Him in Heaven..."our perfect forever" home. Things seem dire until we put our heart in His Hands and let Him take control. Then everything seems to fall into place even better than we had expected. I'm keeping the family in my thoughts and please give everyone our love!"
Dear Renee - I know I will see you again. As for now, you will forever be in my heart on Earth. "Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). Your joy was truly an emulation of the joy that the Lord had given you.
With all our love,
Kristi, Camille & Olivia Keller
I began to get to know Renee and Paul at the start of the pandemic. They had agreed to serve on our Elon CCM Advisory Board, but since things had been shut down, all of our interactions were over Zoom. Still, I was able to see her enthusiasm and passion for what we were doing because she had such a joyfulness about her, even over a computer screen. I've always believed that joy is an incredible mark of what it means to be a Christian. Even as she struggled with her health, her joy, faith, and love of Jesus never seemed to waiver. It was an honor to finally meet Renee and Paul in person over our 2021 fall board meeting on Elon's campus. Their service and kindness to others are inspiring. She even texted me on my birthday when her health was declining. What an amazing person. If our goal is to bring people to Christ, then Renee did it unbelievably well, as evidenced by everyone she touched and all those in attendance at her service.
Early in our friendship, Renee and I were working on a GE Women’s Network event for the Houston location. She was traveling and asked for some help finalizing some details. Gladly I helped as we were both traveling quite a lot, and I knew she would be retuning right before our GEWN event. During the event at one point I told Renee that she and I ‘were two peas in a pod’. She laughter that delightful laugh and we finished the event. About 3 weeks later she walks into my office with a box from one of her travels - a lovely Limoge box of a two peas in a pod!!! Classic Renee! ❤️❤️❤️
Renee once asked me if I had a spare hair tie because hers broke and none of the marketing girls had a spare. I gave her one I had on my wrist and didn’t think much of it. Later that week I got one of her sweet thank you notes along with a whole set of hair ties and chocolates in case anyone on her marketing team was short of hair ties or chocolate. Classic Renee - making sure her team was taken care with the big things and even the small things. She was a real servant leader.
- Our first year we stayed at the Palmer House Hilton, which had a very fancy lobby. Before heading to the airport on Sunday, we took over a corner of the lobby and essentially unpacked and repacked our suitcases right there to try to fit in all of our purchases. We got a few looks! Packing at the end of the weekend was a challenge every year. We had to sit on our suitcases to close them most years.
- We ate our Friday night dinner at the Cheesecake Factory every year. 100s of restaurants within walking distance and that's where we ate every year. And we had the spinach artichoke dip appetizer every year. We both loved traditions.
- We met Shelly for dinner on Saturday night and did try different restaurants for that dinner. One of our favorites was tapas at Quartino's. Our conversations usually got a little racy at some point during the dinner, and we made more than one waiter blush over the years!
- One year, Renee brought some scented room spray but didn't read the label before spraying it in our tiny hotel room. She used 5 or 6 pumps of spray when the label said 1-2. We could barely breathe in the room and had to prop the door open for an hour or so to get the room livable again.
- We would have similar conversations every year - how to balance being a working mom, raising girls, keeping our marriages strong, taking care of ourselves. Every year we would both make plans/resolutions for the upcoming year and would promise to keep each other accountable. And then next year, we would laugh and do it all over again with the same plans. But there was no judgment.
- We spent a lot of time trying to figure out when was the best time to get our Garrett's popcorn to minimize our waiting time.
- Renee turned all of the decision making over to me on these trips. She usually booked the hotels with her points, but could never remember where we were staying or which way to turn on Michigan Ave to get to our favorite stores. I used to wonder how a GE executive could not remember the details on this trip. She told me that this weekend was her time to let someone else be in charge and take care of everything. That was my gift to her.
- One of her guilty pleasures was pop magazines like People and Us. I had a People magazine subscription for a few years and I would bring her old issues. She would spend the first evening sitting in her hotel bed poring through those magazines. We used to joke that even in our late 20s/early 30s we were old ladies - back in our hotel room before 9pm. The night would be complete if we got Starbucks on our way back to the hotel and could find a Hallmark Christmas movie on TV.