The Brandywine Hundred Fire Co Auxiliary is sadden to announce the passing of one of our own - Lifetime Active Member Rena Schmidt, Rena had 53 active years with us, she joined the fire company back in 1971 and has served on many committees, served as Board of Director and always helping with catering events, she was our Potato Salad Queen. She will be missed by all of us. Services for Rena are listed below in her Obituary

Renna Mae (Golden) Schmidt, age 85, of Wilmington, DE., passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

Renna was born in 1939 in Dudley, PA., where she attended grade school in Dudley PA., Hopewell PA., Huntingdon PA., and Edgemoor DE. She graduated from Claymont High School on June 11, 1959.

She worked in the office of Custom Heating and Air Conditioning in Edgemoor, DE. She did sales and office work for B.J. Hoys 5&10 and also worked in the offices at the Delaware State Hospital.

Renna did volunteer work for the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, taught Sunday School at the Atonement Methodist Church for several years and was voted a Trustee in 2014 for a number of years at Atonement Methodist Church. In 1971 she joined the Brandywine Hundred Fire Company Ladies’ Auxiliary and was a lifetime active member for 53 years. She also was a Board of Director for the BHFC Auxiliary in 2012 and 2013.

Renna is preceded in death by her son, Ronald John Schmidt, her parents, Chester and Loretta Golden, her two brothers, James and Marty Golden, a sister, Shirley Yeatman, her grandson, John Russell Schmidt and two nieces.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Ronald E. Schmidt, Sr., her sons, Ronald E. Schmidt, Jr., (Dianne), Richard A. Schmidt (Donna), Russell K. Schmidt (Christine), and Daniel Jochen, her 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

She enjoyed traveling with her family extensively throughout most of the eastern United States and parts of Canada, site seeing many historic sites and many presidential homes. She enjoyed camping with her family in a travel trailer, wouldn’t do a tent though. She loved researching family tree history and documenting it all.

A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803. A visitation will be held prior from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Interment will follow the service at the Delaware Veterans Cemetery, Bear, DE.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Atonement Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 3519 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, DE 19703, or the Brandywine Hundred Veterans Home, 313 Brandywine Blvd., Wilmington, DE 19809 or to Accent Hospice, 220 Continental Drive, Newark, DE 19713.