Renzo “Gino” Manfredini

August 10, 1948 – August 20, 2026

Renzo Manfredini, known to many as Gino, of Buford, Georgia, died on August 20, 2026, in Braselton, Georgia, ten days after his 78th birthday. He spent his final months at home, cared for with great love by his family.

He was born on August 10, 1948, in Sant’Anna Pelago in the Province of Modena, Italy, to Ernesto and Alberta (Ori) Manfredini, and came to the United States at the age of ten.

In 1970, he married Donna Pasala, whom he had met on a blind date arranged by their best friends. Their marriage of fifty-six years was the foundation of everything he built, and she remained the love of his life for all of it.

A year into their marriage, Renzo was drafted into the United States Army in 1971. He was slated for deployment to Vietnam, but an injury kept him stateside, where he served as a cook and was recognized for his skill in the kitchen. It was the same skill that would feed his family and friends for the next fifty years. He was honorably discharged, and he carried a pride in his service that never left him. In 2024, he was selected for an Honor Flight, a trip that meant a great deal to him.

He is survived by his wife, Donna (Pasala) Manfredini; his son, Lawrence Manfredini; his daughter, Janice Smith, and her husband, Thomas; his brothers, Giacomo (the late Irma) Manfredini and Luigi (the late Inez) Manfredini; his grandchildren, Chase (Suzette) Manfredini, Nico Manfredini, Zachary, Corryn, Allysa, Santino, Marina, Alaina, Marissa, and Geno Smith; Fieora Pflug, whom he loved as a granddaughter of his own; his great-grandchildren, Archer, Coraline, and Victoria Manfredini; and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother Giorgio Manfredini.

Renzo began his working life in 1962, sweeping floors after school at a neighborhood grocery store. In 1967, when the owner sought to sell the business, Renzo and his brother Luigi purchased it and went into partnership together. They were two brothers, still young, with a store of their own. Behind the counter he was a butcher by trade, proud of his work and of the customers who came to know him by name. The brothers sold the business in 2001, after which Renzo served as an inspector for the DuPage County Health Department. He retired in 2020, and he and Donna left Illinois for Georgia to be near their daughter and her family, trading the life they had built for the one being lived just down the road.

He bowled in a league for many years and never turned down a round of golf. He and Donna looked forward all month to their poker nights with the friends they had kept for a lifetime, and he was a proud member of the Mazzini Verdi Italian American Club. He and his son-in-law, Thomas, shared a love of the movies, and the two of them made a habit of movie marathons, settling in for a whole day of them whenever they got the chance. He was devoted to his little dog, Sugar, who preceded him in death in 2025. He was rarely seen without a McDonald’s iced coffee in hand, a small habit his family will not forget.

Above all, Renzo treasured being Nonno. His grandchildren were the great joy of his life. He loved taking them out for breakfast and lunch dates, and he could always be talked into a card game. He was the kind of Nonno who made time, who wanted to hear what was going on in their lives, and who was proud of even their smallest accomplishments. They always knew they had someone cheering them on. They will remember his voice, his laugh, his sayings, and the little things that made them feel at home.

His family will carry pieces of him with them, in the traditions they continue, the stories they will tell, and the way they love each other.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at the Mazzini Verdi Italian American Club in Franklin Park, Illinois. Visitation will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., followed by a luncheon beginning at 2:00 p.m. All who wish to honor him are welcome to attend. An RSVP link will be provided for the luncheon head count.

Georgia Cremation in Duluth assisted the family with arrangements.