Renee Marion Drol

Renee Marion Drol (nee Locker), age 95, of West Milford, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 24, 2025 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Renee was born in Paterson, New Jersey, and raised in Woodland Park, formerly known as West Paterson. She was one of two children born to Henry and Gladys Locker.

Renee was a polio survivor at a time when no cure existed. Through constant therapy and the devoted support of her parents, friends, and relatives, she overcame its challenges with strength and determination. As a young girl, she enjoyed riding her bicycle with her brother, Hank, into Totowa, where she attended school, though she often remarked on how difficult the ride home was up the steep hill on Meriline Avenue.

She graduated from Passaic Valley High School with the Class of 1947. During her school years, Renee excelled in girls’ intramural basketball and was an accomplished figure skater, often skating at Barber’s Pond.

Following high school, Renee worked at a bank in downtown Paterson and later at Bendix Corporation in Teterboro, New Jersey. She also spent several years as a professional model with Barbizon. After the birth of her first child, she chose to devote herself fully to her family as a homemaker.

On September 13, 1956, Renee married her high school sweetheart, Andrew Drol. The couple initially lived in West Paterson before building a home in Wayne, New Jersey, where they raised their family and resided for nearly 50 years. Together, they welcomed three children Andy, Brad, and Karen whom they lovingly raised. In the early 2000s, Renee relocated to West Milford to be closer to family.

After her children were grown, Renee returned to the workforce. She worked as a receptionist and telephone operator at Meyer Brothers in West Caldwell, held sales positions with local department and clothing stores, and later served as an administrative assistant for State Farm Insurance in Wayne for more than ten years before retiring.

Renee was a longtime member of St. Michael’s Church in Wayne, where she taught Sunday School for many years, and later became an active member of Smoke Rise Community Church. She was deeply devoted to her Christian faith.

Her greatest joy in life was her family, and she treasured every moment spent with her children and grandchildren. Renee also enjoyed playing bingo and was an exceptional cook, well known for her many cherished recipes, including rice pudding, brownies, Dutch apple cake, and pies.

Renee shared more than forty years of marriage with her beloved husband, Andrew, until his passing in 1999. She cherished family vacations to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and to Point Pleasant, New Jersey, always traveling together by car.

A devoted mother and grandmother, Renee will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Renee is survived by her three children: her daughter Karen Straub and her partner Michael DeJohn of West Milford, NJ; her son Brad Drol and his wife Julie of West Milford, NJ, and her son Andy Drál, of Redwood City, CA. She is also survived by her two grandchildren; Kelly Behnke and her husband Rich of Bayville NJ, and Kayla Drol of West Milford, NJ. She was predeceased by her husband, Andrew Drol (1999), and her brother, Henry Locker (2019).

In lieu of flowers, donations in Renee’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater New Jersey Chapter, 23 Vreeland Road, Suite 105, Florham Park, New Jersey 07932.