Darlene Carol (Labolle) Gletty

Darlene Carol (LaBolle) Gletty, 84, went home to the Lord Friday, December 12, 2014. She was born at her parent’s home on Thanksgiving, November 27, 1930 in Somonauk, the daughter of Roy and Florence LaBolle. Darlene grew up on a farm with her family, and beloved horse Billy, on 150 acres of uncut timber just south of Somonauk. She and James J. Gletty met in high school. She graduated from Somonauk High School with the class of 1948 and worked briefly as a telephone operator prior to marrying Jim. After graduating Jim and Darlene began dating and were married just six months later on March 10, 1951. Once married, her job as a wife, homemaker and mother-of raising boys to men and girls to women-was the most gratifying and worthy profession of her life. She was proud and felt extremely blessed to have been a farmer’s daughter and a farmer’s wife where she learned the full meaning of love, integrity and freedom. Her passion was her husband, children and traveling. Weekends usually found Jim and Darlene either touring Amish communities in Arthur, IL or off to a tractor show in an adjoining state. In earlier years, Darlene bought Jim a BMW motorcycle which they would spend weekends riding far and wide searching for antiques. Jim and Darlene loved spending all of their free time together along with their beloved dog, Coco. Darlene could lose all track of time when she was reading. She was a great cook and could bake scrumptious pies, cookies and cakes, but would rather go out to dinner if at all possible. Darlene loved going to Chicago to the Art Museum, plays and to continuously expanding her children’s minds to the world and to the culture of Chicago. Darlene was spiritual, a free spirit and a realist who accepted events and situations as they really were and dealt with them in a practical way. She was quoted saying, “You are only as happy as your saddest child.” Darlene was very wise and also optimistic. She was a best friend and champion of her adult children, and a kind and extremely generous person. Darlene found the innocence of joy in all that she did and in doing that, she was able to create a world of unconditional love and compassion for all of her family. The world is less without her, though more loving and blessed to have known her. Darlene Carol (LaBolle) Gletty will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her husband of close to 64 years, James J. Gletty; their four children, Nancy Olson, Michael (Linda) Gletty, Christi (Larry Dean) Gibson and David (Kim) Gletty; eight grandchildren, Jacob (Esmeralda) Olson, Katie (Scott) Gletty-Syoen, Ryan (Maegan) Gletty, Hilary (Patrick) Milott, David (Tracy) Gibson, Cameron Gibson, Graham (Katie) Gletty and Griffin Gletty; ten great grandchildren, Olivia, Ethan and Alexander Olson, Eliyanna Olson, Ella and Violet Gletty-Syoen, Jack and Wyatt Gletty, Kaitlyn, Madeline and Ian Gibson and Avery Gletty; one sister, Betty (Bill) Westbrook; one granddaughter-in-law, Melissa Olson; numerous nieces and nephews; and her beloved dog, Coco.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one grandson, Andrew Olson; two sisters, Hazel Nelson and Barbara Sebby; one brother, Roy LaBolle, Jr.

Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 19, 2014 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Somonauk with Rev. William C. Weidenbach, Jr. officiating. Graveside services will be private. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 19, 2014 at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Tails Humane Society, 2250 Barber Greene Road, DeKalb, IL 60115 or St. John’s Lutheran Church for the Oaks Indian Mission, 235 S. Green Street, Somonauk, IL 60552. For more information or to sign the online guest book, go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com

Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
13160 W. Rt 34
Somonauk, IL 60552
815-498-2363