Verena A. Rensing, 83, of rural New Baden, IL died Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at her home. She was born July 1, 1925 in Lookingglass Twp., daughter of Joseph H. and Catherine A. (Rensing) Kalmer. She married Emil A. Rensing April 7, 1948 in Damiansville, IL and he survives.

In addition to her husband she is survived by her children, Edward (special friend Warren Opfer) Rensing of St. Charles, MO, Dorothy (Jerry) Toth of Aurora, IL, Dolores (Frank) Sump of St. Louis, MO, Janet (Paul) Biegler of Millstadt, IL, James J. (Kathleen) Rensing of New Baden, IL, Marvin (Nancy) Rensing of Mascoutah, IL and Nancy (Kurt) Richter of Aviston, IL; 14 grandchildren, Christina (David) Wilkinson, Renee (Chris) Flenner, Jessica (Jeff) Lumsden, Stephanie (Fiancé, Clark Evans) Toth, Dustin Sump, Ryan Sump, Brad Biegler, Chelsea Biegler, Megan Rensing, Kathryn Rensing, Amanda Rensing, Autumn Rensing, Nathan Richter, Nicole, Richter; three great grandchildren, Kegan Lumsden, Kaitlyn Flenner and Kennedy Flenner; one brother, Lawrence Kalmer of New Baden, Il; two sisters, Marcella (Leo) Varel of Carlyle, IL and Margaret (Ralph) Thole of St. Rose, IL; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Jerome Koerkenmeier of Damiansville, Il, Hugo Wilke of St. Rose, IL, Eugenia Rensing of Fairview Heights, IL, Elmer & Ella Rensing of New Baden, IL and Viola Ottensmeier of Trenton, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Mary Rita Koerkenmeier and Mary Ruth Wilke; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ben and Mary Rensing; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Virginia Kalmer, Joseph and Leona Rensing, Corrine and Ray Feldman, Loretta and Frank Varel, Ben Rensing, Marie Rensing, Herman and Lorene Rensing and Joe Ottensmeier.

Mrs. Rensing was member of St. George Parish and Altar Sodality and the New Baden Senior Citizens. She was a homemaker. She was an avid quilter and enjoyed playing bingo, cards and her family, especially grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A funeral mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, January 2, 2009 at St. George Catholic Church in New Baden with Rev. Eugene Neff officiating. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in New Baden.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday, January 1, 2009 and from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Friday, January 2, 2009 at Hempen Funeral Home in New Baden. There will be a prayer service at 4 p.m. and the Senior Citizens will visit at 5 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. George Parish, Family Hospice, or Alzheimer's Research and will be received at the funeral home.