Willemina (Wilma) Meyer Brenn passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on May 19, 2022 after just celebrating her 103rd birthday. Wilma was born in Passaic, NJ to Johaunn and Willemina Meyer on May 8, 1919 during the Spanish Flu Pandemic. She graduated from East Rutherford High School in 1936.

Wilma worked at Bendix Aviation in NYC where she saw many interesting people including Albert Einstein. She married Gerald Brenn in 1942 and left her employment the next year to follow her husband to Colorado where he was in training as a charter member of the 10th Mountain Division. He later served in Italy during WWII receiving a Purple Heart. They both remained active lifetime members of the 10th Mountain Division. In 2006 Wilma, with her daughter Judi, went to Italy with the 10th Mtn. Div. Descendants group to honor her late husband and those who served with him. After the war they moved to Springfield, NJ where they raised four children. Wilma’s front door was always left open for a visit from a friend or neighbor who wanted to chat.

She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Springfield for 54 years. Wilma served as President of the Ladies Society for 20 years and had a leadership role in many of the fundraising efforts within the church. Her husband Jerry passed away in 1983. In 2001 Wilma moved to the Heath Village Retirement Community in Hackettstown, NJ where she enjoyed peace, joy and the love of many friends for the last 21 years. Wilma had a hunger for learning and loved reading, crossword puzzles and enjoyed traveling both here and abroad. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting and needleworking. As an avid astronomer Wilma was captivated by the night sky and “would rather look up at the sky than down toward the ground.

Wilma was preceded in death by her husband Gerald. She is survived by her sons Robert Brenn and wife Janine of Long Island, NY, Jonathan Brenn and wife Eleni of Banning, CA, her daughters Jean Strong and husband Bill of Forest, VA, and Judi Anderson and husband Bob of Phillipsburg, NJ. She is Grandma to four grandchildren Jody Frattini of Wharton, NJ, Kristen Grove and husband Pete of Apex, NC, Jessie Brenn of Illinois, and Abbey Brenn of Illinois. She is a beloved GG (Great Grandma) to Cole, Devon, Hana, Christopher, Addison and Skylar.

A celebration of Wilma’s life will be held in the near future at Heath Village. In lieu of flowers, we would be grateful for any donations being made to the Heath Village Employee Appreciation Fund, 430 Schooleys Mt Rd, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 where the care she received had a profound impact on Wilma and her family.