WEST SENECA — Renee Greco’s mother cradled her daughter’s ashes while friends and family sobbed and tried to sing “You Are My Sunshine” Saturday morning at St. Matthew’s Cemetery.
Greco, a 24-year-old counselor, was slain Monday at the Avenue House group home a 437 East Ave. Monday. Two Rochester teens have been charged with second degree murder.
The Rev. Fabian J. Maryanski, a former pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in Lockport and St. Patrick’s in Barker, officiated funeral services for Renee C. Greco at the filled-to-capacity Kazmierczak Funeral Home and cemetery.
“It was just a great shock to me because Lockport is my adopted city,” said Maryanski, who served in Niagara County for 20 years. “In my time, I was going to the Wyndham Lawn home and celebrating Mass there. I have a great remembrance there.”
Maryanski read from the Book of Wisdom, the 23rd Psalm and the Gospel of St. Luke at the funeral home. “Our sister, Renee, was suddenly and violently taken away from us,” said the priest who is now at St. Andrews.
“She wanted to make the world better and she did make it better,” Maryanski said.
At the cemetery, Renee’s ashes were placed next to her father’s grave. David Greco died Sept. 10, 2005.
“When my father passed away, my sister wrote a poem for him which one of his best friends saved,” said Anthony Greco, 23. Anthony’s girlfriend, Nicole Curico, read the poem.
Sarah Bajer, Renee’s cousin read a note that Renee’s mother wrote for the service. Jane Patterson, Renee’s mother, recalled it was difficult to get her baby to sleep and mom would sing “You Are My Sunshine” several times to get Renee to settle down. Mom tried “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” but that only stirred the infant.
Renee loved to sing and often participated in karaoke.
Carly Fazio of South Buffalo is the best friend of Renee’s best friend. “We loved to play card games and hang out,” Fazio said. “My heart stopped (when I heard she was killed.) It was really horrible. She was just the sweetest person on earth. She told me and Stacie she was going to put her two-week notice in. She got an offer from a hair salon.”
Tony Greco said his sister loved listening to music, singing karaoke and styling and cutting people’s hair.
Renee did not know what to do, Fazio said. Then the tragedy happened.
The suspects, Anthony J. Allen, 18, and Robert J. Thousand, 17, both originally of Rochester allegedly threw a blanket over her head and beat her to death with objects they found in the basement of the Avenue House.
Uncle Robert Giambra said, “The last time I talked to her she said she stayed their because she needed the benefits and their were some kids there who benefited from her being there. She was a little afraid of some of the kids there and she made a note to the management and they pretty much pushed it aside. She was giving her two-week notice the next day.”
Donations may be made to the Renee C. Greco Benefit Fund, care of any First Niagara Bank.
Contact reporter Bill Wolcott at 439-9222, ext. 6246.
