Ruth Renée Stack Doe, free-spirited and loyal

With her family by her side, Ruth Renée Stack Doe passed away at home Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, after a short and fierce battle with cancer.

Renée was born Jan. 30, 1972, at Milford Memorial Hospital, to parents Karen and Bill Stack. She belonged to a tight-knit group of friends who attended Rehoboth Elementary and Rehoboth Junior High, and graduated from Cape Henlopen High School in 1990.

A free spirit and deadhead, Renée wrote poems and traveled the world as a youth, visiting Honduras, Ireland, England, Italy and other European countries by rail. Fearless, she once went bungee jumping, choosing the tallest height from which to soar.

Her adventurous spirit led her to find homes in Atlanta; Pennsylvania; Arizona, where she attended culinary school; and Oregon before returning to Delaware, where she settled in her beloved grandmother’s Lewes home with the joy of her life, daughter Alyssa Berg. 

Through her adulthood, Renée worked at MBNA in Newark, in the restaurant and retail industries, and most recently at Beebe Healthcare. She found great satisfaction volunteering at a mental health and substance abuse clinic in Oregon, and enjoyed recounting fun times playing softball.

Home and family life were most important to Renée, who took great care in raising her daughter to respect nature, feel empathy toward others, and help those in need. Renée’s kitchen overflowed with cookbooks of various eras and cuisines. She was known for creating the most delicious homemade cakes and she delighted in experimenting with recipes spiced with herbs from her garden, where she could often be found toiling and dirt-smeared in her favorite overalls.

Animals literally flocked to Renée; once, a bird landed on her head and she happily walked around her yard with the bird resting in her hair.

Renée especially loved Halloween and crafted elaborate costumes for Alyssa and herself so they could walk around downtown Lewes trick or treating together.

Ardent and strong, Renée possessed an intimate knowledge of the most intricate subjects, and never ceased in her quest to improve herself and her worldview. Restoring her grandmother’s house with a fresh mastery of renovation techniques helped keep her ancestor’s memory alive.

Full of laughter and spontaneity, Renée never met a stranger, and when she chose your friendship, you gained a lifelong companion supportive in good times and bad. Regardless of the individual, she strove for and found something good in everyone and never shied from poking fun at herself.

Renée is preceded in death by her grandparents Helen and Robert Stack, and Kenneth and Ruth Schmierer, for whom she was named; her aunt, Sue Schmierer; as well as scores of rescued animals.

In addition to her daughter, parents, stepmother Betsy Stack, brother Billy Stack and his wife Linda, Renée is survived by her aunt Cathie Stango, aunt Carol and uncle Wayne Hellens, uncle Kenny Schmierer, uncle Keith and aunt Lydia Schmierier; a nephew and cousins; her dog, Serafina; cats, Spirit and Shadow; countless friends worldwide; and all the wild birds, squirrels, possums, turkey buzzards, and deer of Mulberry Street who found safe haven in her yard.

While Renée’s passing has left a hole in the hearts of many, the family, friends, and animals who loved her find comfort that she is now at peace.

A celebration of Renée’s life will be held in the spring; details will be forthcoming.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions can be made in Renée’s name to Brandywine Valley SPCA, 22918 Dupont Blvd., Georgetown, DE 19947.