Darlene Theresa Brandon

On Thursday July 18, 2024, Darlene Theresa Spinella Brandon loving wife of Stephen F. Brandon Sr. and mother to two children, Jennifer Lynn Brandon and Stephen F. Brandon Jr. passed away to be with her Lord at the age of 77.

Darlene was confirmed at St. Georges Catholic Church, Ft. Worth, Texas during her youth and has been a lifelong Catholic. In school she was active in many teen activities. Upon Graduation from High School Darlene attended Tarleton State University for two years. She was a Majorette and baton twirler for Tarleton’s college marching band. While she was still attending college, she had a blind date with a young man named Stephen Brandon and after several months of courtship led to her marriage to Stephen F. Brandon Sr. on March 15 ,1969. Darlene became a mother on February 5,1973 to Jennifer Lynn Brandon and subsequently to Stephen F. Brandon Jr. on June 27, 1976.

Darlene was a fulltime mother who devoted all her time to her children. She was an exceptional cook and entertainment host with excellent décor tastes. She got a lot of her mother’s Cajun recipes and became a master with many tasty dishes. Darlene also had a passion for clothing style and always dressed to the nines. Over the last several years Darlene loved to discuss politics and was a very strong Christian conservative woman. Her friends and family had a nickname for her “The Darbaby.”

Darlene was born in Morgan City Louisiana on July 31, 1946. She was the second of four children born to Joseph and Vivian Spinella. After military service in WWII Joseph graduated from LSU with a degree in Electrical Engineering and subsequently moved Darlene and her older sister Carolyn to Ft. Worth, Texas where he worked on Air Force Jet electrical systems for General Dynamics. Darlene was raised in Ft. Worth and along with her older sister and brothers Tim and Chuck.

Darlene was preceded in death by her father Joseph, and mother Vivian Spinella. She is survived by her husband of 55 years Stephen F. Brandon Sr, daughter Jennifer Lynn Brandon, and son Stephen F. Brandon Jr. She is also survived by her sister Carolyn Hales, brothers Tim Spinella and Chuck Spinella.

Darlene will be greatly missed as she was the rock of her family. May she rest in peace!!

Darlene will be laid to rest in Bluebonnet Hill’s Mausoleum after a private family only Mausoleum side service on Wednesday July 24, 2024.