Brenda Santanello, nee Williams, 80, of Belleville, IL, born December 18, 1941, in Hickstown, IL, died Sunday, October 30, 2022, at her residence, surrounded by family.
Mrs. Santanello started her career in 1965 and retired from Sherwood Medical Industries in 1999. She was an extremely hard worker who began working as a secretary, and who ended her career as an international credit manager. Her family and friends from her hometown of Golconda, located in Southern Illinois, were extremely precious to her. She had a close group of friends from Pope County Community High School who called themselves “The 10.”
Brenda and her husband, Dick, enjoyed golf trips with friends. She also loved trips to the beach! She was an avid sports enthusiast who bowled for 21 years with the A Mirring Florist Bowling Team at Panorama. After their bowling years, the team started a golf league. During Brenda’s golfing years, she was able to make two holes-in-one! One of these was shared with her grandson during a round of golf. Brenda enjoyed a good margarita here and there, and got lucky more than once on the slot machines.
She adored her grandchildren and loved watching them play sports. They also enjoyed movies and pizza on babysitting nights. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt who will be deeply missed.
She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 49 years, Richard “Dick” Santanello, whom she married on July 3, 1971, and who died on April 19, 2020; a grandson, Andrew Clarke Hall; her parents, Alma, nee Schutt, and William Elliston; her father, Harry Williams; a very special aunt, Wanda Robinson; a sister, Barbara Irace; a brother, Herschel “Bud” Williams; and two brothers-in-law, William “Bill” Santanello and Jay Erwin.
Surviving are two daughters, Nancy (Robert) Hall, and Cara (Todd) Berta; five grandchildren, Christian (Bridget) Hall, Chloe Hall, Thad Richard Berta, Addison Berta, and Grace Berta; two brothers-in-law, Bob (Rita) Santanello and Joe (Barb) Santanello; three sisters-in-law, Vickie Santanello, Cathy Santanello, and Bonnie Santanello; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Andrew Clarke Hall Memorial Fund, or to her grandchildren’s schools; St. Louis University High, St. Joseph Academy, or St. Raphael the Archangel School. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, November 5, 2022, at the Chapel of the Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, November 5, 2022, at the Chapel of the Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL, with Michael Inyart officiating.
Burial will be at a later date.