Rene Smania — 1964-2011
Rene Ernest Smania, 47, passed from this world way too soon on Nov. 29, 2011, after a courageous three-year battle with cancer.
Born in San Francisco to Swiss parents, his family returned to Switzerland when he was 3. He attended chef and butcher schools in Switzerland before serving two years in the Swiss army.
Rene Smania
He returned to the United States in 1985, learned to speak English and found success in a number of professions, including chef, managing hardware and retail stores, and most recently as manager of the Happy Homestead Cemetery in South Lake Tahoe.
In 1992, he met his wife of 18 years, Celine. The two moved from Maui to South Lake Tahoe where they were married and built a wonderful life together with their four-legged children, Zephyr, Bentley and Sammy.
Besides being the jokester that he was, Rene was a man of many talents. The longer he and Celine were married the more she said she kept discovering his hidden talents.
Cooking was his passion, along with motorcycles, skiing, painting, yodeling and just about anything else.
Most of all he loved sitting around the kitchen table after a good meal with family and friends talking about everything and anything.
“Thank you Rene for 18 wonderful years. I’ll love you forever and a day,” Celine said.
His father, Ernest, and Aunt Rita preceded Rene in death.
He is survived by his wife, Celine; mother Vera; brother Michael; sister Esther and her husband Richard; Uncle Paul; cousins Michelle and Susy; in-law Doris Hamann and Gerard Thibeault and their children Linda and Dennis; other relatives and numerous friends.
Rene’ was a brave, and wonderful man, I was blessed to have had him as a dear friend and co-worker for the last four years, HHCD will not be the same without him, and he will be forever missed, but always in my heart.
Adria
Please excuse the picture, inside joke, Rene’ and I lol
My family moved into a house 3 1/2 years ago across the street from Rene. We are so lucky to have had him as a friend and neighbor. We will miss sitting out in the front yard in the summer sharing a glass of wine or beer and chatting about whatever was on our minds. The world has lost a beautiful soul much too soon. Our hearts go out to all who knew and loved him. And his amazing wife Celine….we love you and are here for anything you need.
Rene was one of the nicest people in town. My condolences to Celine and all their family.
I will miss Rene ever so much. Celine and Rene were neighbors of my wife and I when we first got together 14 years ago and we continued to be good friends. No matter how long it had been since seeing one another, we could always pick up wherever we left off. Most recently we had the pleasure of seeing Rene come into our cafe for lunch very often. Bout after bout fighting cancer, he lifted our spirits with an incredible attitude toward his own challenges.
God bless you Rene and God bless you Celine.
I miss my friend. I hope he knew how much he meant to me and my wife. More then a friend, a brother. Thank you Rene and Celine for allowing us in to your life.
I have been searching for years for Rene,
little did i know he was so close.
God bless you ,Companion of our Youth.
I met Rene when he was a very young man of 17 and learning the butcher trade from Mr.Stehli, he brightened my time working in Switzerland……he made me laugh,he listened and he protected me.
Thank you my friend I never forgotten you over the years and never will
Lisa