Dorothy Crockett Rehn

MOUNT VERNON – Dorothy Crockett Rehn, 93, passed away on July 6, 2024.

Dorothy Irene (Renee) Wilson was born to the late Dorothy (Chase) Wilson and Richard Wilson in 1931 in New York, N.Y. She grew up in Hempstead, on Long Island, N.Y. Renee graduated from SUNY Potsdam with a degree in music education. She used those skills extensively throughout her professional and volunteer career.

Renee and her family spent summers at her grandparents’ camp business, Chases on Torsey on Chase Road in Readfield. All available family members worked to keep the business running. One summer, Renee went to a dance in Mount Vernon at the Odd Fellows Hall, where she met her future husband, David.

Renee and David Crockett were married at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Augusta in 1954. They settled in Needham, Mass., where they made life-long friends and extended family connections at Christ Episcopal Church. They were both always volunteering with one organization or another, and they very successfully instilled those values in their kids, as it is second nature to use one’s skills in the service of others. Renee’s dedication to her family was unwavering, and she was a loving wife and mother.

Sadly, Renee was predeceased by David in 1988. That same year, Renee lost her close friend, Carol Rehn, who, along with Bob, was part of Renee and David’s friends’ group. Before long, and much to the delight of the 10 Crockett and Rehn “kids,” Renee and Bob were “an item.”

Renee married Robert Rehn in 1990, and the two spent nine wonderful years together before Bob’s passing. As newlyweds and a newly retired couple, Bob and Renee joined the RV Gypsies, roving around the East Coast in their Winnebago while volunteering with Habitat for Humanity to build houses.

Renee relished her role as grandma to all who needed her. Madeline first named her “Grandma Renee,” and the moniker stuck for 38 years.

In addition to Paul’s children, Madeline Snow, McKenzie Moore, and Carrie LaFreniere, Renee is survived by Dana’s four daughters, Emily, Mary, Julia, and Wendy. She was Grandma Renee to all the Rehn family kids as well. And she was a special “surrogate” grandma to the Burnett kids of Needham, Mass.

Grandmothering didn’t end there. When Renee retired to Maine, she immediately volunteered to run playgroups for preschool kids and their parents in Mount Vernon and Readfield. Parents and grandparents would be in awe of her ability to capture the rapt attention of an otherwise energetic group of 1–5-year-olds and have them sit still and sing. Renee’s impact on the community was profound, and her dedication to volunteering inspired many. Everyone knew her as Grandma Renee.

Renee was predeceased by husband, David Crockett; her beloved daughter, Carolyn Crockett; and her husband, Robert Rehn.

In addition to all the grand and great-grandkids, Renee is survived by her sons Richard, Paul and wife Shari Hamilton, her “associate son” Dana Drury and wife Maggie, and her Rehn “kids” Warren, Norman, Stephen, Cynthia, Sharon, Peter and spouses. She is also survived by her sister, Stephanie Hatch and husband Charles; and her beloved niece, Cynthia Belski and husband Matthew.

There will be a celebration of Renee’s life on Aug. 10 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Community Center. This celebration will be a warm and loving gathering, reflecting Renee’s spirit. All are welcome. Renee had friends and family all over the place. The family appreciates that not everyone may be able to drop by this casual gathering.

Arrangements are in the care of the Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop where condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the funeral home website http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com

Both, in lieu of flowers and to honor Renee’s legacy, we invite you to make a donation to the

Mount Vernon Food Bank,

P.O. Box 193

Mount Vernon, ME 04352.

Another way you may wish to honor Renee would be to volunteer somewhere. You can make a real difference in the lives of others by giving just an hour or more of your time at a food bank, a children’s literacy program, Meals on Wheels delivery, or whatever may be meaningful to you. You’ll think of Renee as you work those precious hours.