Rena Marie Mead, 63, of 246 Ashland Ct., Ironwood, passed away on Friday, Dec. 5, 2008, surrounded by her family, after a long struggle with several debilitating conditions.      Born on May 5, 1945, in Ironwood, she attended Sleight SA Elementary and St. Ambrose schools, graduating in 1963. After high school she attended Northern Michigan University, graduating from the nursing program.      On June 26, 1965, she was married to George W. Mead at St. Ambrose Church by the late Monsignor Joseph Dunleavy. George preceded her in death in 2006 after 41 years of marriage.      In her free time, Rena enjoyed knitting and making crafts with her grandchildren and spending time outside with them.      She was a wonderful woman who always put others before herself.      Rena is survived by three wonderfully caring and supportive children, Bruce A. Mead of Apple Valley, Minn., Doug L. Mead (Jessica) of Ironwood and Stacey A. Mead of Duluth, Minn.; five grandchildren, Caitlin of Apple Valley, Julieann and Devon Mead of Ironwood, and Samuel and Joshua Larson of Duluth. All the grandchildren were the joy of her life and she loved spending time with and doing fun things with them. Rena is also survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Rod and Doreen Passuello and their three sons.      Rena was preceded in death by her adopted parents, Reno and Ethel Passuello, her brother, Roderick Passuello, and her mother-and-father-in-law, Agnes and George Mead.      A memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec. 13, at 11 a.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl J. Pepin officiating.      Friends and family may call at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday.      To view Rena's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.      Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick and Engstrom Funeral and Cremation Services of Ironwood and Hurley.