Renee Sinnott

Renee L. Sinnott
August 14, 1946 - April 28, 2026

Renee Louise Sinnott (Riskowski)
August 14, 1946 – April 28, 2026
Preceded in death by her parents, Charley and Clara Riskowski (Lubash) and beloved grandson Dane Sinnott.
Survived by her children – David (Colleen) Sinnott, Patrick (Debbie) Sinnott, Nicholas (Jen) Sinnott, Christina (Tom) Hensley. Grandchildren – Charley, Colin, Noraleigh, Grace, and Stone.
Renee was born on August 14, 1946, in Loup City, Nebraska—fondly known as the Polish Capital of Nebraska. She graduated from St. Josephat Grade School and Loup City High School, home of the Red Raiders, in 1964. Shortly after graduation, Renee moved to Omaha in search of job opportunities. It was there she met Dave Sinnott at the Brown Derby Bar in South Omaha, and the two were married in 1968. Together they built a life centered on family, raising four children, three boys and finally the one girl—all who remained her pride and joy.
Renee lived life with energy, humor, and a deep love for community. In her younger years, she was active in athletics, especially bowling, slow-pitch softball, indoor & outdoor volleyball. She was a longtime member—and eventually leader—of the “School Moms PTA” bowling league, which she joined in the early 1970s at Leisure Lanes. Over the years, as the bowling alleys came and went, the league moved with them, continuing until the 2010s. She made annual trips to state and national bowling tournaments with her beloved group of friends, the “Banana Bunch,” where she earned a reputation as the group’s resident prankster. Her antics including plastic ants in beds, plastic wrapped toilets, toothpaste in locks, fake vomit, etc. became the stuff of legend. She had a genuine passion for life’s simple joys. Renee was an avid garage sale enthusiast, who would review the newspapers early in the week to plan her upcoming weekend conquests. She found great joy in horseback riding, a cold diet brown pop, and the companionship of her pets—especially “Will the Feral” and “Minnie”. She appreciated the life’s smallest and most beautiful gifts from God: birds in the yard, the quietness of nature, and even calling her family late at night to “go look at the moon”. She cherished returning to Loup City as often as possible, where she spent time relaxing on the porch and made special trips with each grandchild to share her hometown and instill in them the same love that we all have for it.
A devout Catholic her entire life, Renee and her family joined St. Bernadette Parish in 1970. She was deeply involved in her church, volunteering for festivals, dinners, altar society, and countless other events. In 1979, the family traveled to DesMoines see the “new Polish Pope” St. John Paul II, and again to Denver in 1993 for World Youth Day. Her faith was the cornerstone of her life—she attended Mass daily, prayed constantly for her family, and remained committed to her beliefs, especially her devotion to praying for unborn children until her last breath. She lived what she believed: holding strong standards while offering acceptance and compassion to all.
She loved to travel and serve others, joining the IXIM mission group on five trips to the mountains of Guatemala. Later when she was no longer able to handle the physical requirements of the Guatemala trips, she traveled with the International Santas group to destinations including Costa Rica, Germany, Portugal, Austria, Mexico, and Canada. She never visited a national park without taking home a “souvenir” rock—so many, in fact, that it was said people could just travel to her backyard to visit the Rocky Mountains. And no mountain trip was complete without stopping to make everyone put their feet in a cold creek.
Renee devoted herself fully to raising her children, stepping away from the workforce while they were young. Later, she returned to work in roles she truly enjoyed, including as a purchaser for Oberman’s Furniture in South Omaha, where her love of finding treasures and connecting with people shined. She spent the final 11 years of her working life stocking shelves at Family Fare, a job that kept her close to her neighbors and community. Even as her health declined, she continued working until just before her hospitalization in January 2025—what she jokingly called her “forced retirement.” While she often teased about “liking” her children, there was never any doubt that she adored her grandchildren. She cherished time with each one individually and was a devoted caregiver to her grandson Dane. Her daily “good morning” texts became a constant reminder of her love. She considered her greatest accomplishments to be her children, grandchildren, and even her “grand pets.” She was a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies year-round and had a well-known sweet tooth—especially for chocolate. Each year, she celebrated Fat Tuesday by indulging in sweets all day, then faithfully gave up sugar for Lent. Come Easter, her family honored tradition by gifting her Peeps that had been opened weeks earlier, so they were hard as rocks, just the way she liked them. Renee was a lifelong learner, an avid reader, and someone with a deep knowledge of nature and the Bible. There was no such thing as a short story from her… she gave an entire backstory before getting to the actual story.

In the end, her wish to live out her final days at home was fulfilled. Surrounded by her children and grandchildren, she spent precious one-on-one moments with each of them—calling them to her one by one, as if to the principal’s office, for final conversations filled with love. Many friends and family were also able to visit and say their goodbyes.
Renee will be remembered for her faith, her humor, her unwavering love for her family, and her ability to find beauty in the simplest moments. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the traditions she created, and the love she gave so freely.

A funeral mass will be held at Holy Ghost Church in Omaha on Wednesday May 6th. A prayer service and Christian burial will be held at St. Josephat’s Cemetery in her beloved Loup City at sunset on Friday May 8th. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Nebraska Right to Life or Nebraska Wildlife Rehab.


Visitation: 4 pm to 6 pm, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, with Vigil Service starting at 6 pm at Bethany Funeral Home. Funeral Mass; 10 am, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at Holy Ghost Catholic Church.



Bethany Funeral Home & Cremation Services
8201 Harrison Street La Vista, Nebraska 68128 402-593-6100