R. Charlene Small, loving mother and grandmother

LITTLE GENESEE — R. Charlene Small, 86, 429 Sandford Hollow Road, Little Genesee, passed away Tuesday (Feb. 24, 2026) at Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester after a brief illness.

Born Feb. 15, 1940, in Olean, she was a daughter of William and Elvira Kapurski Nenno. On July 5, 1958, in Olean, she married John Small, who predeceased her Feb. 23, 1999.

Charlene was a graduate of Olean High School.

She had worked at the Breezy Point Campground Store while camping there, a toy store, and last was the manager at the Dollar Store that used to be in the Olean Center Mall.

Charlene was a member of the Shinglehouse American Legion Post 530.

She enjoyed camping, scrapbooking, reading, people watching, taking side-by-side rides with her grandson to “the rocks,” and spending time with her family and grandchildren who were her world. She was famous for her potato salad at family gatherings.

She is survived by a daughter, Shelley (Dennis) Peters of Little Genesee; her grandchildren, Dustin, Tiffany (Josh), Dennis (Cecelia), Sam, Heidi and Salena; her great-grandchildren, Avery, Aspen, Liam, Hailynn, Ryan, Mayson, Harper and Ryleigh; four brothers, Don (Monica) Nenno and Dave (Rosemary) Nenno, both of South Carolina, Honsey Russell of Olean and Herm (Pam) Burrows of Shinglehouse, Pa.; several nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Ed Depto of Hinsdale.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by a son, Willie Small in 2013; a daughter, Tina Small in 2009; and a granddaughter, Kassie.

Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. today (Feb. 26, 2026) and again from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday (Feb. 27, 2026) at the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., 554 S. Main St., Bolivar, at which time a funeral service will begin in the funeral home. Pastor Michael Peters will officiate. Burial will be in Bowler Memorial Cemetery, Little Genesee.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mary M. Gooley Hemophilia Center, 1415 Portland Ave., Suite 500, Rochester, NY 14621,