Renee Staples Dykeman, 62, passed away on September 9, 2016 after a brief battle with cancer. Born June 23, 1954 to Robert and Elinor Staples in Camp Kilmer Edison, New Jersey, she was the oldest of three children. Renee grew up in Highland Park, NJ where she met and married her high school sweetheart, Bill. Renee and Bill married in September of 1973 and relocated to Florida in 1978. Together they welcomed a daughter, Tara, in 1982 and a son, William, in 1984. Renee spent many years as a stay-at-home mother. As her children began school, she volunteered at the elementary school and later became employed by the school board. Renee spent over 10 years working with children of all ages, and especially enjoyed her time working with mentally and physically handicapped children, often saying that they taught her more than she taught them. After retiring from the school board, Renee went on to be an office manager for a general contractor for several years. In October 2012, Renee became a grandma for the first time and spent every available weekend in Orlando visiting. In 2013, Renee put her general contracting skills to use and oversaw the building of her very first brand new home. In September of 2014, she closed on her home in Mount Dora, FL. On November 26, 2014, she not only relocated from South Florida to Mount Dora, but she welcomed her granddaughter to the world as well. From the moment Renee moved to Mount Dora, she spent every weekend, holiday and spare moment playing with her grandbabies. In June 2015, Renee found what she described as her favorite job yet, working at the Leesburg Police Department, as the administrative assistant to the Criminal Investigations detectives. Of all her accomplishments, she was most proud of her family, and to her, family wasn't limited to just those related by blood. Almost everyone she met became family. Renee's grandchildren were the highlight of her life and she loved nothing more than playing soccer with them at the park, doing puzzles, coloring or just being silly with them. Renee leaves behind her daughter and son in law, Tara and Paul Stevens, her son William Dykeman and his fianc Kristen McKey, her mother, Elinor Staples, her sister and brother in law, Susan and Joe Wenk, her sister and brother in law, Roberta and Peter Cartwright, her nephew Shane Cartwright, her grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins and those whom she lovingly referred to as her adopted children. Though she will be missed, her family is grateful that her battle with cancer was brief. Her family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to extended family, friends, and co-workers who reached out and supported Renee as she battled cancer. In lieu of flowers, Renee expressed wishes to have donations made to Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties, a domestic violence shelter for battered and abused women, located at 2600 South Street, Leesburg, FL 34748. A celebration of life service will be held on September 30, 2016 at Allen J. Harden Funeral Home located at 1800 N. Donnelly Street, Mount Dora, FL 32757. Services will be at 2pm, and the family will receive friends from 1pm until the time of the service. Burial will be in New Jersey. Condolences may be shared at http://www.allenjharden.com/.