Winifred Irene Rinyu

Winifred Irene Rinyu of Greenville, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, July 4, 2025. Winnie was born in 1937 in Staten Island, NY, lived in NJ and TN, and moved to SC in 2015 to be near family. Winnie was preceded in death by parents, Gladys and James Norman MacFarlane, and sisters Eileen Lindsay and Marylou Nutley. She is survived by four children, Stephen Conti (Carol), Jill Rose (Doug), Craig Conti, Tracey Patskanick (Bob), and special niece, Robyn Goerge.  She is also survived by ten grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Winnie graduated from Brookdale Community College with an associate’s degree and retired from the Department of the Army at Fort Monmouth, NJ in 1998. She moved to TN after retirement and worked in retail and as a home health caregiver for several years. She enjoyed trips to the Great Smokey Mountains, traveling abroad and in the US, ceramics, country western dancing, and researching family ancestors. She belonged to Saint Mary Magdalene Church in Simpsonville.

Winnie was a dog lover all her life and adopted her last two dogs from shelters. The family is encouraging donations in leu of flowers to Oconee Humane Society, 1925 Sandifer Blvd, Seneca, SC 29678. She would be delighted to know that animals were being helped in her memory. www.oconeehumane.org/donate/

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Cannon Byrd Funeral Home, 1150 N. Main St., Fountain Inn, SC.

The funeral mass will be held on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 2:00 pm at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, 2252 Woodruff Rd., Simpsonville, SC.

Interment in Cannon Byrd Memorial Park will be private for the family.