Darlas Marie Bango

Darlas Marie Catherman Bango died peacefully at home in Center Township on Friday, April 11th, 2025.
Darla was born at her family home on College Hill, Beaver Falls, to the late Roy and Nina (Corl) Catherman. She worked at the Youth Center, and married Blackie (John) Bango on September 10th, 1950. Together they traveled to Boston, Niagara Falls and Las Vegas, and arranged frequent family trips to Wildwood, New Jersey and Geneva on The Lake. Together, they owned 3 popular local bars-the Bama Inn and The Hideout in New Brighton, and the 19th Hole in Chippewa. She also worked for many years at the One Stop Shopper in Darlington. During their years in Beaver Falls, Dar and Blackie loved to entertain. Summer was "pool time", and on any given weekend, one phone call brought 50 people for a pool party, with enough food to feed all of College Hill.
In 1984, they moved to Jensen Beach, Florida. There they sold decorator pillows at the B&A Flea market, where they became known as the "Pillow People". Following the death of Blackie, Darlas became a Home Health Aide, working almost exclusive with hospice and ALS patients. In 2004, Darlas came back to the Pittsburgh area to live with her daughter and son-in-law, settling in Center Township in 2011.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Blackie, her sister Miriam and brother-in-law Butch (Clarence) Newton, her brother Harold (Sara Caughey) Catherman, and her oldest son Terry Roy (Martha Thompson) Bango of Stuart, Florida.
She is survived by her son Jeffrey (Debbie) Bango of Poland, Ohio, and her daughter Tami Sue (David) Seretti, who she lived with, grandchildren John (Ellen) Bango of Port St Lucie, Florida, and Jamie (Patrick) McNealy of Jensen Beach, Florida, and Great grandchildren Addison Bango, and Colin and Genevieve McNealy. In addition, she leaves behind many special nieces, nephews and cousins that meant so much to her, and will carry on her stories.
Darlas was unapologetically herself-nebby, funny, opinionated, a rabid fan of reading and The Lettermen, a generous lover of the outdoors and flowers, sometimes without tact, but always with a great story. So many of our family conversations start with "So, I've got a story" followed by the most ridiculous thing that ever happened to us.
Per her wishes, there will be no funeral. The family will hold a Celebration of Life in her honor in the summer.
Arrangements by SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, Monaca.
The family would like to thank Dr. Gregg Zernich and his staff for their wonderful care over the years, and Amedicus Hospice for their compassion and kindness. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Psoriasis Foundation, or the Beaver County Humane Society.
"You'll Never Walk Alone"