Renata "Rena" Mann

Renata “Rena” Mann, 95, of Sylvania, passed away after a brief illness on November 20, 2022, surrounded by her family. Rena’s amazing life began on April 4, 1927, in Berlin, Germany where she was born to the late Leon and Gertruda Wollstein.

Rena’s family lived through one of the most notorious time periods in world history, residing in Nazi Germany during World War II. A Holocaust Survivor, Rena spent 4 years of her young life in a concentration camp and was liberated on the last day of the war by Russian soldiers. Having no place to go, Rena returned to her hometown in Katowice, Poland where she reunited with her stepfather.

Upon leaving Poland, Rena moved to London, England where she lived for several years before making her way to New York, City Via the ship Queen Elizabeth.

It’s there, Rena met her future husband Alex Mann on a blind date. Together they shared their love of NYC and enjoyed horseback riding in Central Park. They married on June 25, 1953 and began their life together.

A job transfer led the young couple to Toledo in 1958. Soon after, Rena gave birth to their daughter Gigi. Shortly thereafter, Alex joined Toledo Appliances, Inc. where he became Sales Manager. In 1961, Rena gave birth to her son Jeff, and the family was complete.

Alex excelled in his career and earned incentive trips that took the couple all over the world. Among their many destinations was Hong Kong, China, Amsterdam, Belgium, Aruba and multiple trips to Hawaii. Above all of the exotic trips they took, Rena loved her yearly trips to Las Vegas. She was happiest sitting with a bag of quarters in front of her favorite slot machine.

In 1984, having a desire to own their own business, Alex and Rena together with their son Jeff founded Jeffrey Mann Fine Jewelers, Inc. Working together for many years, Alex ran the business, while Rena provided the administration, and Jeff was responsible for the sales side of the business. As the business grew, Rena retired in 1994 and returned to doing what she loved most: being a wonderful wife, mother, homemaker and doting on her husband and children. Father and son continued working together until Alex’s passing in February 2003. Carrying on the family tradition, Gigi joined the family business and continues to work there today.

Rena will be fondly remembered for her tender heart, her compassion for the less fortunate and her quick wit. She loved animals and cherished her fur babies. Rena loved people, and she never met a stranger. She had the ability to find the good in any person or any situation. Her family endearingly referred to her as the “eternal optimist”. From lifelong friends to caretakers she just met, Rena will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Gigi (Gary) Lewis and Jeffrey (Corrine) Mann; grandchildren, Jason (Amanda) Lewis, Scott (Alyssa) Lewis, Alexandria, Annsley, and Abigail Mann; great grandchildren, Braydon, Colton, and Gianna Lewis. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alex Mann in 2003.

The family would like to thank Dr. Susan Federman, and Dr. Dan Pipoly for their outstanding care and compassion. We are grateful for the time we had with our mom.

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 p.m., Sunday, November 27, 2022, at Temple Shomer Emunim, 6453 Sylvania Avenue. Family and friends are invited to attend a Meal of Condolence immediately following the service in the Temple lounge. The family will be sitting Shiva until 3:00 p.m. Rena will be laid to rest next to her husband at Historic Woodlawn Cemetery.

Those wishing to honor Rena’s memory are asked to consider Temple Shomer Emunim, The Toledo Humane Society or Ebeid Hospice, Sylvania.