Mildred A. ‘Ann’ Strum, gracious Southern lady
Mildred A. Strum ("Ann"), 84, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, surrounded by her deeply loving family members. Ann was born March 31, 1932, in Crewe, Va.
She will be remembered as the most gracious of women the South had to offer the world. She touched so many with her deep affection, caring, beautiful smile, fun-loving attitude, and dry but good-natured wit. Everyone who has ever come in contact with Ann has had pleasant words for her, and she exhibited the softest of hearts. Dearly missed doesn't express the extent of the love and affection her family and friends shared for Ann.
Ann spent her early years in Petersburg, Va., not venturing far from her loving parents until she embarked on her college journey to William & Mary. It was there that she would meet and marry her soulmate Bill, her loving husband of 62 years. Their college experience would leave an indelible mark on their lives, as reflected by their attendance at nearly all of the William & Mary Homecoming weekends over the 60 years plus after their graduations. After college, Ann and Bill originally settled in the Virginia Beach area until a career opportunity for Bill would take them and their two children, Karen and James, to Delaware. Not surprisingly, Ann would make many more lifelong friends in Delaware, both in the Wilmington and Newark areas, and then once she and Bill moved to Rehoboth Beach, which she would call home for 26 wonderful years.
Ann was an avid cook and sports enthusiast, whether playing the sports she loved, tennis and later golf, watching her favorite teams or individuals play, or following her son, daughter and grandsons playing their individual sports or for their respective teams. Ann was a member of the Rehoboth Beach Country Club since 1989, tearing up the tennis courts and bringing joy to the women's 9-holer group. Many of her children's friends may recall her for the nickname she earned as "Coach Ann," reflective of not only her zest for the sports she followed, but for her unique knowledge of sports, particularly football and baseball.
Ann began her teaching career as an elementary ed teacher in Colonial Heights, Va., and Newark. Later in life, she was the manager and co-owner of All-Brite Venetian Blind Co. in Newport, and served as a life insurance agent for Transamerica Life Insurance Co.
Ann will be dearly missed by all she touched, particularly her loving husband of 62 years, William J. Strum ("Bill"); her daughter Karen Marenco (her husband Carl); and son James Strum (his fiancé Mary Beth); and her grandsons, Andrew Marenco, Brendan Strum, Dr. Christopher Marenco (his wife Megan), Harrison Strum and Patrick Marenco. Ann was predeceased by her parents, Connelly S. and Mary F. Davis; her brother, Calvin Davis; and grandson, Davis Marenco.
The family sincerely thanks the staff of the ICU unit at Beebe Healthcare for their care for Ann and support.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon, Friday, Aug. 5, at St. Edmond Catholic Church, 409 King Charles Ave., Rehoboth Beach, where friends may visit beginning at 11 a.m. Interment will be held the following week Friday, Aug. 12, at 10 a.m., at All Saints’ Cemetery, 6001 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington.
Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Ann's memory to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38015, or www.stjude.org, or the SIDS Foundation at www.sids.org.
Please visit Mrs. Strum's Life Memorial Tribute Page and sign her online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
