Emilie Darden

Emilie K. Darden NORFOLK - Emilie Mary Krize Darden died peacefully at the age of 92 on Dec. 6, 2010 in Virginia Beach. She was born in Lucerne, Pa., to Austrian immigrants Frank Paul and Mary Agnes Krize. Her family moved to Suffolk when Emilie's father was commissioned to supervise the development of the printing department for the new location of Planters Peanut Co. Her father, illustrator Frank P. Krize, refined the original stick figure drawing of a peanut by adding the top hat, monocle, cane, gloves, and spats to create the world- known "Mr. Peanut." After graduating from Suffolk High School, Emilie continued her studies and received graduate and post graduate degrees in fine art from Maryland Institute of Art in Baltimore. She also attended The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Johns Hopkins University, and The College of William and Mary. Emilie's name is listed among those in "Who is Who in American Art." She became well known as an accomplished artist and was commissioned to paint the portraits of many prominent individuals including the Maryland Secretary of State and Amedeo Obici, the founder of Planters Peanut Co. During and following World War II, Emilie handpainted prosthetic eyes for soldiers returning home from the war. While working in Portsmouth Naval Hospital, she met her future husband, James F. Darden. They married, and several years later moved their young growing family of three daughters to Richmond, Va., where Jimmie earned the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Medical College of Virginia. They returned to Norfolk with the addition of a son, and Dr. Darden established his successful dental practice in the Larrymore Professional Building. The family was then completed with the arrival of a fourth daughter. Emilie is survived by her five children, Mitzi Darden, Karen Darden Edwards and her husband Will, Neysa Darden Lee and her husband Bob, Michael Darden, Tina Darden; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 10, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Suffolk. Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suffolk. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Norfolk or Virginia Beach SPCA to honor Emilie's lifelong love of animals. H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Norfolk Chapel, is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be made through hdoliver.com.