Obituary of Darlene A. Donovan

Darlene Ann Donovan, born September 18, 1937, second of thirteen children of Robert and Hazel (Maxey) Vrchoticky passed away Friday, July 11th surrounded by her loving family. Funeral mass will be held 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 14th at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Iowa City with visitation from 4-8 p.m., Sunday at the Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. Family burial will take place later at St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorials in Darlene's name can be made to Mercy Hospice or St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Darlene graduated from University High School in 1956, during which time she worked at FW Woolworths. Later she was employed at Northwestern Bell, the City of Iowa City, ACT and the University of Iowa, from which she retired in 1999. On June 8, 1957, she married Roland Donovan at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City. They recently celebrated 57 years of marriage. Together they enjoyed playing games, doing puzzles, and delivering Meals on Wheels. Darlene also enjoyed crocheting, reading, bowling, and time spent with her family. In earlier years, she also enjoyed being a Girl Scout leader. Darlene is survived by her husband, Roland; children, Stan Donovan (Vicki) and Teresa Loikets (Bill); five wonderful grandchildren, Tera Rees (Pat), Kelly Donovan (Tim VanDerhorst), Tom Donovan (Misti), Chad and Lindsay Loikets. The light of her life were her great-grandchildren, Alex and Donovan Rees, Hunter VanDerhorst and Chloe Donovan. She is also survived by eight brothers and three sisters; Bob Vrchoticky, Melva Swartzendruber (Ken), Joe Vrchoticky (Ruth), Ed Vrchoticky (Shirley) Darrell Vrchoticky (Carol), Sharon Krenz (Gaylen), Allen Vrchoticky, Jerry Vrchoticky (Joan), Rodney Vrchoticky, Pat Litton (Roger) and Bruce Vrchoticky (Mary). She was preceded in death by her parents; in-laws, George and Nellie Donovan; sister, Marilyn Nost; sister and brother-in-law, Wilma and Tom Denneny, a nephew, Arthur Vrchoticky and great-niece, Karen Orr.