Irene (Rena) Rutledge

Irene (Rena) Rutledge, of Santa Barbara, California, passed away on October 16, 2023 in Honolulu, Hawaii after a long illness. She was 82. Born in Chicago to immigrant Greek parents, she was the third of four girls in her family. A tragedy in her early years changed the course of her life and shaped the sensitive woman she grew to be. She was modest, a gentle soul, courageous, loving and kind, with a certain fragility and grace” about her. She attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, majoring in education. She spent her senior year in Hawaii where she met her husband and subsequently married. They had a daughter, Pamela, and moved to California. She began her teaching career in the Santa Barbara district schools, and spent her last years at the Monroe Elementary School until retiring. She was loved and appreciated by students and teachers and many parents requested having their children in her class. She gave workshops to teachers which were well attended and appreciated. She was creative and pursued the arts taking up pottery and basketry. After retiring she became more involved in a variety of local Santa Barbara political and social activities/events and was active in the “get out the vote” effort during elections. She traveled extensively with her older sister, took up tennis and walked regularly with friends. She was fun, easy to be with and had many friends. In mid-life she was widowed following the early death of her second husband, Bruce Rutledge, another difficult event in her life. Following her diagnosis in 2011, she moved to Honolulu to be with her daughter, where she remained until her death. She leaves behind wonderful memories of times spent together with her over our lifetime, and we will forever carry her in our hearts.

Irene is survived by her 2 remaining sisters, Stella Ziouras & Elaine Kizziah, her daughter Pamela Kim, her remaining cousin Plato Bageris, Niece Jennifer Ziouras Davis, Nephews Michael and Jim Ziouras, and Aaron and Thomas Kizziah.

This beautiful poem by Rabindranath Tagore seems a beautiful ending as we say our final goodbyes to Rena.

Peace, my heart, let the time for the parting be sweet.
Let it not be a death but completeness.
Let love melt into memory and pain into songs.
Let the flight through the sky end in the folding of the wings over the nest.
Let the last touch of your hands be gentle like the flower of the night.
Stand still, O Beautiful End, for a moment, and say your last words in silence.
I bow to you and hold up my lamp to light you on your way.”