Darlene Suzanne Cook

On November 8th, Darlene was diagnosed with glioblastoma. A week later, on her 58th birthday, she had the tumours removed—a less-than-ideal present. Four months later, after fighting the hardest her cancer allowed, she passed away surrounded by her angels and her adoring family,

Daughter to the late Theresa, who she always called Ma or Trese, and Colin Shaw. Sister to Kenny Shaw (Patty), predeceased by her sisters Jeanne Shaw and Debbie Caruso. Soulmate and best friend to James Cook. Adoring and adored mother to Sean Cook (Natalie) and Alicia Levesque (Matthew). Beloved aunt to Ken Hilderly Jr. and Sierra Bloemsma. Daughter-in-law to Samuel Cook and the late Norma Cook. Sister-in-law to Cindy Bloemsma (Allan).

Mummy to dogs Cozy and Mochi. “Darlene” to her rescued cat, Max. Predeceased by her Bichon Frise, Poppy. Grandma to dogs Eevee and Scout and cats Tigger, Adara, Winnie, and Margot.

The youngest of five kids and the only one to stay in the Sault, she had a special bond with Ma. They were kindred spirits, in many ways the same person just with a few decades’ difference in birthdays. They had the same heart, the same kindness, the same interests. They both spent their lives volunteering, a teenage Darlene starting as a candy striper at the hospital while Ma ran exercise programs. They almost always had crochet hooks in their hands. Until dementia made it impossible, they called each other every night to check in, sometimes even at 2 in the morning. Besides their kids, there was no one more precious to the other.

For Darlene though, there was one exception—her Jim. Jim and Darlene knew each other from Sir James Dunn, but they never remember talking until their time at Algoma University. She was working on a bachelor’s in psychology, but her certificate in data processing put her directly into computer science student Jim’s path. He wasn’t getting her hints, so she got his number for someone else and called him, asking if he wanted to get some coffee. Hating coffee, Jim turned her down. Instead, he asked her out to a movie. A few years later, they were married, living in Heritage Place until they settled in the P Patch. Shortly thereafter, Jim was surrounded by redheaded children, and the rest of their lives began.

Starting when Alicia entered junior kindergarten, Darlene resumed her volunteering and spent a decade as head of Ben R. McMullen Public School’s PTA, walking over nearly every day to help out with one program or another. The milk program, family fun night,

lunchtime popcorn, the book fair, the Santa Sale, and the fruits and vegetables program were all run or started by her. It wasn’t until Alicia left for high school that she stopped, even then still giving a hand as a lunch monitor when needed.

She was a special person to have as a mother. She was patient and understanding. She was playful, colouring the world with the silliness and whimsy it sorely misses. She put so much of her time in her kids’ interests, just so she could stay connected with them, even through their tumultuous adolescence. Even after Sean and Alicia moved out, they still came back to finish the shows they started with her, still sought her for her counsel.

It's hard to capture someone as precious as her in something as simple as words—all we can do is outline her silhouette through the things she liked. She watched almost everything, but loved Eddie Murphy and Bill Murray the most. She loved music, from George Michael to Michael Bublé, Richard Marx to Rick Astley. She loved reading, and made sure her kids felt the same. She loved Precious Moments and Royal Doulton figurines, decorative plates, angels, and Snoopy. She loved her pets like they were her small fuzzy babies. Christmas was her favourite season, and every year she swapped out almost every decoration in the living room for a more festive alternative. Every year came a different set of crafts for her to give out like confetti to family and friends. Lightbulbs and egg cartons became snowmen with top hats. Clothespins became reindeer. Plastic rings became angels. The tree was overloaded with decorations, the handmade ornaments arranged in a beautiful chaos. That creativity will be forever missed, but her creations will live on for decades.

Darlene was taken too early. Everyone is, but her especially. She was robbed of being a grandmother, of retiring with her husband. We were robbed of living that life with her, of giving her the decades of joy she deserved. The rest of our lives will be spent missing her, of longing for what should have been. All we can do now is hope she is with Ma in a cozy living room somewhere, drinking Pepsi, eating some popcorn, and watching TV.

If love could have saved her, she would have lived forever.