On January 6, 2025, Rina Niccolina Shockey closed her eyes for the last time, held in the arms
of her youngest son, Jack, and his daughter, Nicole, by her side. Thankfully the last words she
heard were, “I love you.”
Rina was born in Florence, Italy on December 6, 1926 to Caterina an Nino Franci. She has one
younger sister named Fedora, “FiFi” for short. She helped her father on the farm. During the
war, she helped launder the soldiers’ uniforms, where she met her husband, Frank Steven
Pogany. They married and had their first child, Louis Rudolpho Pogany. When the war was over
they took a ship to the United States and settled in Lakemore, IL. She had four more children,
Frank Santi Pogany, Rinetta Catherine Pogany, Lucia Rigina Pogany, and Jack Anthony
Pogany. She was a great wife and mother and set a great example for her children. She taught
herself to read and write English so she could become an American Citizen and she was very
proud of that.
Her favorite hobbies were knitting, gardening, and cooking for her family—which was most
important to her. When Frank Sr. passed, she met Donald Shockey at Poppy’s Alpine House in
Lake Zurich, IL. She thought it was just great that he had five children and she had five
children—Debbie, Cindy, Leann, Liz, and Johnny Shockey. They moved to Richmond, IL where
her son Louie built her a big brick home to accommodate the whole family. Poppy’s Alpine
House was sold to a chain called Hackneys where they both worked as cooks until they retired
and moved to Route 12 in Black River Falls, WI. After Donald’s passing she moved into her son
Jack’s home on County O. Where he and his family provided love and care for her until she
passed away.
Rina is survived by her children, Louis Pogany, Frank (Dianna) Pogany, Rinetta (Gary) Dowell,
Lucia, and Jack (Julie); grandchildren, Jesse (Maggie), Jamie (Nate), Ivy (Remington), Jenni
(Daniel), Heidi, Abby, Jason (Paula), Catherine (Bradley), and Nicole; 22 great-grandchildren;
and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husbands, Frank and Donald; her parents, Caterina and Nino;
her sister FiFi (Neddo); daughter-in-law, JoAnn; granddaughter, Katie; and great-grandson,
Jordan.
The rest of the family would like to thank Jack, Julie, and Nicole for the loving care and support
they provided mom Rina when living with them.
Torgerson’s Funeral Home of Black River Falls is assisting the family.
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