Date of Birth
December 26, 1958
Date of Death
September 19, 2023
Irene “Reney” Budz, age 64, of Kankakee, passed away peacefully at her niece’s home on September 19, 2023, surrounded by the love and prayers of her family. She was a beloved wife of the late Jim Budz, devoted daughter, sister and sister-in-law, as well as the best aunt, great aunt and great-great aunt. Her beloved dog, Santo, was left in the care of her brother Jimmy.
She was born on December 26, 1958, in Evergreen Park, IL, to loving parents, Louis and Irene Banach.
Reney grew up in Chicago, IL, and attended St. Simon the Apostle school and graduated from Lourdes High School. Reney was always very active, enjoying riding bikes, hiking, and playing catch. She always had a baseball mitt in the trunk of her car. In her later years, she learned how to play Pickleball with her Kankakee team.
Reney was a passionate artist of the highest caliber. She has won many awards for her photography starting in her teen years as a member of the Handy Hustlers 4-H Club. She was a founding member of the Kankakee Camera Club and served many years as president and eagerly mentored new members. Every year a member is selected to receive the Rex Truman Award and Reney was honored to receive the prestigious honor in 2023.
Besides photography, Reney’s stained-glass pieces were breath taking in their beauty. She was commissioned to make specialized pieces and was fortunate to have sold much of her work. Her delight, however, was in giving the pieces to her loving family and friends.
Although Reney was not much of a cook, her nimble hands with an artist’s touch created beautiful melted glass bowls and jewelry. Glass wasn’t the only medium she excelled in. She also created outstanding wood crafts as well. Reney loved to teach crafts to family members.
Being a die-hard Cub fan from birth was not always easy, but Reney never strayed and always rooted for her beloved Chicago Cubs. If her excitement at throwing out the first pitch in June 1989 was sheer bliss, the Cubs thrilling World Series win in 2016 was unmatched and off the charts. If looked closely at pictures from that time, you might notice an ecstatic Reney among the crazy fans holding up a “W” flag outside of Wrigley Field. A shining moment came when she was able to kiss the trophy! Bleeding “Cubbie Blue”, Reney was able to convince Jim Budz into donning matching Cubs jackets for their wedding.
Wanderlust and exploring new places was always on Reney’s mind. She made too many trips to Virginia to visit family to count. In Rhode Island, Jim’s side of the family was the ultimate destination, though touring California and Florida with Jim made for priceless moments and memories galore. Being outside brought Reney much joy and allowed her to indulge in her passion for photography at many national parks, especially Yellowstone, along with many visits to the Badlands, which piqued her curiosity like nothing else in recent memory. Even just tubing down the river in front of her house was relaxing and entertaining for her.
Being surrounded by her family and friends was her favorite place to be, which isn’t hard to imagine considering she was blessed to have an incredibly fun, loud, and crazy, not to mention loyal, family and the most devoted and faithful friends a woman could ask for.
In 2022, a diagnosis of cancer of the brain, or glioblastoma, tested her will and looked to shake down her very foundation. She endured several rounds of radiation, chemotherapy and infusion treatments, and yet through it all, her dogged determination helped to bolster her perseverance.
Reney was encircled by family near and far when she passed peacefully at her niece’s home. The family wanted to thank all of Reney’s dear friends who took her to doctor appointments, on quick jaunts around Kankakee, watched her favorite programs on T.V. with her, those who took care of her beloved four-legged best friend, Santo, those who helped her around her house, those who checked in on her, and of course those who brought her the most delicious treat of caramel frappe! A grateful and humble thank you for all those who loved Reney and lifted her up in prayer.
Reney led a remarkable life, but it was the family and friends that made her years blessed in so many ways. Reney touched the lives of all she met, and all are better people because of it. Reney will be greatly missed.
A memorial Mass will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Reney’s name to St. Anne Church, 230 N. 6th Ave., St. Anne, IL 60964-7206 or the Kankakee County Humane Foundation, 2214 IL-1, St. Anne, IL 60964. Memories or tributes may be left on the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.
A memorial Mass will be held at 5 p.m., December 27, 2023 at St. Anne Church, 230 N. 6th St., St. Anne, IL