Ellen “Renee” Penn, 33, 1988 – 2022.
Renee was one of a kind. She was funny and outgoing and not afraid to speak exactly what was on her mind. Renee was beautiful, barely above 5 feet tall with a tiny frame and her signature strawberry blonde hair. Renee’s house was always spotless, she could not stand a dirty dish in the sink or unwashed laundry. Renee enjoyed being incredibly organized and she always planned ahead.
Renee valued education and was the first in her family to earn a college degree. Renee was awarded ‘Outstanding Student of the Year’ at Carl Sandburg College. Renee started working at the Galesburg Wal-mart at the age of 18 and had been promoted countless times during her career. Most recently, Renee was a manager and prided herself on a job well done.
Perhaps most importantly, Renee was a mother to her two wonderful children, Ayden and Brynn. Renee would want her children to know how proud she was of them both. Renee loved watching Ayden play sports and was always happy to report his stellar grades to friends and family. Renee was proud of how tall Ayden was getting and of the man he was becoming. Renee and Brynn were especially close. Renee was proud of Brynn’s sass- her spunky personality -that was not unlike her mother’s Renee loved the little moments like picking the kids up from school and the bigger moments like packing up for weekend adventures. Renee wanted to make sure that she helped to show her kids the world around them.
Renee’s warmth and laughter will be carried on by her children and remembered by her family and friends. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Ed and Mary Lenz, Jay and Barb Penn, and Lucille and Don Cunningham. She is survived by her children Ayden and Brynn Stromson; her father, Willie (Terri) Penn, and her mother, Debra Lenz; her brothers, Ryan (Caitlyn) Penn and their son, Roxyn, and Augustaf “Goose” Lenz; several aunts, uncles, and cousins; and countless friends.
Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at the Abingdon Christian Church, 409 S. Main St. in Abingdon. Her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 16, 2022, at the church. Pastor Linda Mower will officiate. Cremation will be accorded following the service. Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Abingdon Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Debra Lenz for a fund for Renee’s children. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
