Virginia M. DeRienzo, nee Zak, “Ginny,” 77, of Swansea, IL, born September 18, 1948, in St. Louis, MO, passed away peacefully Friday, April 17, 2026, at her home in Swansea, IL. She is leaving behind a silence that is now filled by the echoes of her song and the warmth of her memory.
Ginny lived a life defined by the harmony she created—both in the meticulous care she gave her work and the music she lifted up in her church. Born in St. Louis in 1948, she carried a spirit of grace and dedication from her early years through a career spent supporting the leadership of others, eventually retiring as an executive secretary for the Anheuser Busch Credit Union.
While her professional life was marked by order and excellence, her soul found its greatest expression in the choir loft of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. There, her voice was more than just a melody; it was a testament to her faith and a gift to the community she loved.
Ginny was a woman of deep roots and enduring branches.
Though she was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Wilma; and her beloved husband, Louis; her legacy continues to flourish through those she held most dear.
She leaves behind her children, Matthew DeRienzo (Crystal) and Courtney McNutt (Kent); her siblings, Barb Viernes (Darren) and Rick Zak (Shelly); two nieces, Kaelyn and Savannah; two nephews, Trevor and Devon; and a circle of grandchildren, Connor, Brenna, Lauren, Lilly, and Zoe.
Memorials may be made to the Belleville Area Humane Society. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. William McGhee and Msgr. John Myler officiating.
Burial will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.
