CHARLESTON, IL – Darlene Mae Brooks, age 80 of Charleston, passed away on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at Charleston Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. Visitation for family and friends will be held Monday evening (February 13, 2012) from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston. Services honoring and celebrating her life will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Monday immediately following the visitation, with Pastor John Best officiating. Interment will be in Mound Cemetery, Charleston at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning (February 14). It is requested that memorial gifts in her honor be made to the Charleston Bible Church or Charleston Christian Academy. Gifts may be left on the memorial table at the visitation or service, or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920.
Darlene was born on October 1, 1931 in Tazewell County, Illinois and was a daughter of the late Harold and Goldie (Miller) Oyer. She married Herbert Lee Brooks on September 1, 1952 and they shared forty-eight years of marriage and friendship prior to his death on April 19, 2001. Darlene is survived by her four sons, Scott Brooks and wife Barb, Mike Brooks and wife Bobbi, all of Charleston, David Brooks and wife Linda of Charlotte, North Carolina, Doug Brooks and wife Pat of St. Louis, Missouri; thirteen grandchildren, Nicole Brooks of Charleston, Brad Brooks and wife Teri of Springfield, Illinois, Jennifer Brooks of Flippin, Arkansas, David Brooks of Madison, Wisconsin, Melissa Brooks of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Philip Brooks, Elsa Brooks and twins Stephen Brooks and Joseph Brooks, all of Charlotte, Thomas Riesenberger and Cameron Riesenberger, both of St. Louis, Ashley Meeker and husband Mike Linder of South Korea, Shannon Meeker of Charleston; a great-grandson, Tyler Brooks of Springfield; a brother, Don Oyer and wife Martha of Mattoon; and a sister, Viola "Vi" McClard of Frankfort, Illinois. In addition to her parents and husband, Darlene was preceded in death by a grandchild and a sister.
Darlene completed her nursing degree at the Mennonite Hospital of Nursing in Bloomington, Illinois in 1952 and earned a bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University in 1975. She was employed as an OB nurse at the Charleston Community Hospital and for twenty-five years cared for the students in the Charleston School District as their school nurse.
Darlene was a member of the Charleston Bible Church for many years. Her hobbies included needlepoint and quilting and Darlene enjoyed the time she and Herb spent in Florida with their Bradenton friends. Darlene was a loving and supportive mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who loved her family dearly. There are numerous memories that are now comforting treasures to be cherished in the hearts of her family and friends who knew and loved her.Click here to view Family Memorial Video.
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