Darlene Joyce Peterson, 81, died peacefully at home on December 5, 2020, following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Darlene was born on November 9, 1939 in Basehor, Kansas, where she lived her entire life. She was the daughter of Clinton and Naomi Warden. She attended Basehor schools, where at the age of six she first met her future husband, Charles. The high school sweethearts married in 1958. Darlene devoted most of her life to lovingly caring for her family, but was also a longtime bookkeeper for Consolidated Rural Water District No. 1. She was a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church, where she played the organ for many years. She and Charles enjoyed traveling, especially their annual camping trip to Beaver Lake, Arkansas, with the entire family.
Darlene is survived by her husband, Charles, of the home; her six sons, all of whom live locally: Richard (Molly), Randal (Christy), Gerald, Kendal (Trish), Leland (Dana) and Kevin “Bert” (Emily); 16 grandchildren: Katy (Kevin) Reardon, Erin, Derek (Ashley), Jeff (Laura), Megan (Richard) Faries, Kim (Derek) Feist, Brad (Lizz), Trent, Dean, Cole, Darby, Mary, Charlie, Adam, Nate and Calvin, and 16 great-grandchildren, with #17 on the way. She is also survived by her sister, Medeana (Larry) Knipp of Tonganoxie, Kansas.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 15, at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Basehor, Kansas (15440 Leavenworth Road) from 9 -11 am. A Rosary will be recited at 10:40, followed by the funeral Mass beginning at 11:00. Immediately following the funeral, Darlene will be laid to rest at Holy Angels Cemetery in Basehor, Kansas (20551 179th Street).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Parkinson’s Foundation or Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas.
The service will also be streamed on Facebook Live from the Alden-Harrington Funeral Home Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AldenHarringtonFH/