Rena Rome

Rena M. Rome, age 78, unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, at her residence. Born in Vernon to the late George A. and Viola (Still) Pennell, Rena had lived in Sussex County all of her life.
She had operated a dairy farm in Wantage with her late husband, Ralph.
She was predeceased by her husband Ralph D. Rome in 1985; her son, Terry Lee Rome in 1994; and two brothers, Raymond “Shorty” Pennell in 1988 and Walter Pennell in 2015. Rena is survived by two sons, Ralph Rome and Lawrence “Larry” Rome both of Sussex; her brother, George Pennell of Swan Lake, New York; her sister, Nancy Smith of North Carolina; and her favorite niece that she had a special bond with, Mary Ellen Grau of Wantage. Friends paid their respects to the family on Friday, May 6, 2016 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Pinkel Funeral Home, 31 Bank Street (Route 23), Sussex. Funeral services were held immediately after the visitation at noon at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Wantage. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the Sussex Fire Department, 25 Loomis Avenue, Sussex, NJ 07461. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.pinkelfuneralhome.com.