Brenda Renae Fochtman, 56, passed peacefully from this life surrounded by family on September 28, 2024. She is survived by her husband, James, her two sons, Michael (25) and Joseph Fochtman (23), and her mother and father, Patricia and Steven Strader. Born May 2, 1968, in Cook, Minnesota, Brenda met her sweetheart, Jim in middle school and was by his side for over forty-two years. They married in 1993 in Sterling, Virginia and moved to Williamsburg in 1995.
She joined the National Park Service, working in Reston and Yorktown for fifteen years. Then she decided to switch careers to be a full-time at-home mom raising her sons. She was also a dedicated community volunteer, serving St. Bede Catholic Church, York County schools, and Boy Scouts. After nearly twenty years at home selflessly caring for the entire family, she switched careers again and enjoyed working in finance at Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
She had a passion for recording memories with photography, vintage paper journals, and making cherished scrapbooks. She spent her rare and treasured quiet moments enjoying long walks in Colonial Williamsburg, hunting for vintage treasures, and watching beautiful sunsets over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Brenda loved spending quality time with her family and friends, and she will be dearly missed by all the lives touched by her warmth and joy.
There will be a Rosary prayed in the sanctuary at St. Bede Catholic Church in Williamsburg on October 16th at 6:00PM to 7:00PM.
Her funeral Mass will be held at St. Bede Catholic Church in Williamsburg on October 17th at 2:00PM, and her interment and reception will follow the Mass. All are welcome to attend the ceremonies. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Williamsburg House of Mercy. https://www.tmcfunding.com/funds/brenda-renae-fochtman/11524/