Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, Darlene Steffes, died peacefully at home on October 22, 2024. She was 88.

With her life dedicated to God, family, and charity, we trust she is already in Heaven.

Darlene was the heart and foundation of our family. She raised seven children, Larry, Jean, Joe, Bob, Nancy, Jim and David in a loving home. She taught us to be respectful, independent and loving kids who, most would agree, grew into such adults. To Darlene, "in-law" was a dirty word, and she loved her children's spouses, Tim, Diane, Andy and Janet, as much as the children she birthed.

Darlene was married for 69 years to her soulmate, Ralph, who lovingly cared for her these last years. Together they demonstrated for nearly seven decades what it looks like and means to be dedicated partners for life! We should all be so blessed.

Along with her children and husband, Darlene is survived by her eleven grandchildren, Noah, Hannah, Jacob, Adam, Sam, Ben, Liza, Lydia, Lilli, Madison and Carter, as well as their spouses Callista, Jacob, Emily, Sebastian, Kyle, Elissa, Anna and Katie. And her nine great-grandchildren, Audrey, Fred, Charlie, Ophelia, Josephine, Wesley, Theodore, Winslow and Violet.

Darlene showed her love through food, hugs, holidays and dedication to her faith. There was not a holiday that she did not like to celebrate – Christmas being her favorite – with cookies, cakes, nuts-and-bolts, and homemade candy and the Nativity scene in a prominent place.

Darlene served the elderly community for many years by providing meals to those in need and dedicated many hours of time to numerous charities and collections for the needy.

One of Darlene's favorite prayers is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. She prayed it daily, promoted it, and encouraged others to pray it daily as well. It was after her family prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet around her bed on the Feast of St. John Paul II that she passed from this life into the fullness of that Divine Mercy.

Darlene's kind heart, love for family, and unshakable faith will be dearly missed but never forgotten. She will be working and helping to prepare a place for the rest of her family in heaven.

May she rest in eternal peace!