Darlene Clifford

Darlene was born March 6, 1929, to Alice and Einar Erickson in Estherville, Iowa. She enjoyed her youth growing up on farms in northern Iowa and Minnesota with her brothers and sisters: Paul, Carl, Bernhard, Noomi, Dorothy and Floyd. Darlene helped with chores on the farm, and she especially liked taking care of the chickens. She attended school in a one room schoolhouse until the family moved to Des Moines, where she graduated high school. After attending the University of Iowa for one year, Darlene decided to be adventurous and moved to Denver with her girlfriends. Shortly after, she was employed by a colonel in the Air Force as his secretary. During this time, Darlene was introduced to Jim (Cliff) Clifford on a blind date. They hit it off and were engaged on Valentine's Day and married on May 19, 1956. For their honeymoon, they travelled to Iowa where Cliff was welcomed by the Erickson family, then drove up to Niagara Falls and finally landed in Rockaway Beach, NY where Darlene was embraced by the Cliffords. Darlene and Jim started their family and Colleen, Kathleen (Kate) and John were born in Rockaway Beach. The family moved to Patchogue on Long Island 5 years later and they had their fourth child, Jim, after relocating. Darlene and the family enjoyed living in Patchogue, surrounded by woods, the creek, the beach, the Great South Bay, Fire Island, and visiting with the Clifford cousins in Islip and Rockaway and enjoying summer vacations with our cousins in Iowa and Kansas. She loved being a mom, teaching us how to bake and crochet, volunteering to help with the Girl Scout troop's many activities, and showing us how to grow vegetables in the yard.

In 1974, Jim had an opportunity to transfer to the post office in Del Mar, California. Darlene agreed to the new adventure and stayed in NY while Jim started his new job. After the kids finished their school year, she sold the house, packed up the belongings and loaded up the station wagon for the drive across the US with 4 kids and a dog! The drive was memorable for Rascal, the dog, barking at the cattle along highway 80 and listening to the same songs over and over as we only had AM radio in the car. Darlene and Jim settled in Oceanside, CA where she and the family lived for over 50 years. She worked for the North County Transit in Oceanside for 20 years as an accounts payable/receivable clerk. After her retirement, she and Jim enjoyed traveling around the US and visiting with family in Iowa and NY. She volunteered for many years in the Oceanside library and senior center in Vista, CA until the age of 90. Above all, Darlene loved spending time with her grandchildren, babysitting and attending their many sporting events and dance recitals. She was an avid sports fan and loved the Los Angeles Kings ice hockey team, followed both Iowa State and the University of Iowa football, enjoyed supporting the teams from the Pac 1 2 (USC, UCLA and Cal) and later in life enjoyed watching Ninja Warrior competitions on TV.

Darlene was the most generous, giving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She always placed others' needs before her own and will be missed by all. Her kind and gentle spirit helped us on our most difficult days; she was our safe place. She is survived by Colleen (Josh), Kate (Neil), John, daughters-in-law Stacy and Regina, grandchildren Alexa, Janna, Keegan, Baylee, Amber, Jamie, Olyn, Kasey and Chelsea, great grandchildren Calie, Jay, Emily Conrad and Luna, sister Dorothy, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Darlene was preceded in death by her husband Jim and her son Jim. Her advice over the last many years was to enjoy life today. If there is something you want to do, then do it! Don't wait. In her loving memory, we will try to heed that advice!