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Obituary for Darlene Joan O'Brien
Darlene Joan (Barr) O’Brien, 83, of Stuart, passed away, April 20, 2016 at the Stuart Community Care Center in Stuart. Visitation will be held 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Sunday, April 24, 2016 at the All Saints Catholic Church, where a rosary will be recited at 7:30 P.M. at the Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 A.M. Monday at the All Saints Catholic Church. Burial will follow the service in Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Darlene O’Brien Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of Johnson Family Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Stuart, Iowa 50250. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Darlene was born March 17, 1933 to Dwight and Edna Smith Barr at their family home in Earlham, Iowa. She grew up in the Earlham and Dexter area and attended school in Earlham, Dexter and Stuart. Darlene was united in marriage to Donald F. O’Brien on December 1, 1951 in Stuart, Iowa at the All Saints Catholic Church and to this union four children were born Donnie, Mary Kathryn, Martin, and Janet. After their marriage, Darlene moved to New Jersey, as Donald was stationed there during the service. After his completion of active duty, they returned to Stuart to make their home and farm. Darlene always mentioned she was lucky to be able to be married to the love of her life for 60 years before Donald’s passed in 2012. After raising her children, Darlene enrolled in the American Beauty School and became a licensed beautician. She worked as a beautician from her home for 35 years and owned and operated O’Brien’s Chocolates for many years before she and Donald retired and moved from their farm into Stuart. Darlene was a member of the All Saints Catholic Church and was part of their Altar and Rosary Society. She was also a member of the Stuart Quilting Club. Darlene enjoyed fishing, camping, dancing, gardening, sewing, cooking, praying, and participating in any of the events sponsored by the church. Darlene’s favorite thing was spending time with her family and enjoyed preparing many family meals at the holidays for all the grandchildren and great grandchildren to get together.
Besides her father, Dwight, Darlene is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Donald F. O’Brien, infant son, Martin O’Brien and one sister, Meriam Jurgensen.
Darlene leaves behind, her children and their spouses, Donald F. O'Brien Jr. and wife Nancy, of Dexter, Mary Kathryn Bigelow and husband Lester, of Winterset, and Janet Dickson and husband Jerry, of Menlo; mother, Enda Barr of Stuart; siblings, Robert Barr, Darrell Barr and Darwin Barr; 9 grandchildren, Tim (Donna) O’Brien and his children (Dakota, Saoirse, and Lochlan), Kenny (Laura) O’Brien and his children (Ava, Ella, Ian and Mason), Dan (Jing) O’Brien, Troy (JoAnn) Bigelow and his children (Carl and Leah), Gwen (Bigelow) Oswald (Kevin) and her children (Abram and Marcus), Jake (Crystal) Bigelow, Matt (Jen) Dickson and his children (Zoey, and Bailey), Mike (Sheila) and his children (Mitchell, Marshall and Carly), and Bradley (Heather) Dickson and his children (Aliyah, Jayden and Payton). (Arrangements: Johnson Family Funeral Home – Stuart Chapel).
Please contact Stuart Flowers & Gifts at 515-523-2264 for all Floral arrangements and gifts.
