Darlene McClelland

May 28, 1936 – July 12, 2016

Darlene Eleanor McClelland (nee Goodwin) passed away peacefully surrounded by the people who loved her dearly at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, SK on the morning of July 12, 2016 from respiratory complications. Surviving Darlene are her three sons Clinton McClelland (Laurie), Mark McClelland (Cheryl) and Wade McClelland (Kim); grandchildren Christopher McClelland (Jenn), Brett McClelland, Brieanne McClelland, Robyn Simpson (McClelland) all of Saskatoon; brother John Goodwin of Winnipeg and his two sons Byron & Jarrett; brother-in-law Bert Collins; and sister-in-law Rita Kreller both of Saskatoon; numerous nieces and nephews all over Canada who thought the world of her; and by her four legged companion & beloved Pixie, her pride & joy in her later years. Darlene was born on the farm in the French Flats south of Saskatoon in the Dundurn, SK area. She grew up loving horses and dogs. At the age of 10 she was diagnosed with a severe case of scoliosis which gave her quite a lot of trouble throughout her life but she always fought through it. In 1956 she married Allan and they started their family in 1958 with their first son Clinton and their second son Mark in 1961. The family then moved to Lytton, BC in 1966 and then back to Saskatoon approximately a year later and bought their house on Alexandra Ave. In 1968 she had their third son Wade. She loved family gatherings and travelling all over to visit them all the time. She especially enjoyed when her Aunty Vy would come to visit and the two of them would travel to North Dakota, Fort Francis and Winnipeg all to visit distant relatives. She enjoyed socializing more than anything. She loved her bingo and went a lot with her good friends and could often be found playing so many cards it would make most people dizzy just watching her! Darlene loved watching her sports, especially baseball & hockey. She spent many days travelling all over western Canada for events that her boys were involved with over many years, so much that she was given a trophy from the North Park Home and School Association that she was “North Park’s Greatest Hockey Fan.” Darlene worked three jobs to ensure that her boys were going to be able to play in whatever sport they wanted to. This love of sports carried on when her grandchildren played baseball & hockey. Nothing brought her more joy than watching them succeed in anything they did. She loved her Blue Jays and could always be found watching a game almost every time someone went to visit her. She loved her country music, old and new. You could always find her down at the Army Navy club for the Saturday afternoon jam sessions where one of her favourite local country bands could be heard. Alan Jackson, George Jones, Don Williams & Charley Pride were among some of her favourites. Darlene was a very hard worker, something that she learned at a young age on the farm. The bulk of her working career was as a Parental Care Supervisor at Kilburn Hall in Saskatoon, working the graveyard shift for 17 years where she took early retirement due to issues with her scoliosis. A special thank-you goes out to all of Darlene’s neighbours & friends in the North Park area who looked out for her and helped her in her final years while battling dementia. She will be loved and missed, but never forgotten. Darlene’s Interment will take place at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens on August 4, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Please meet at the first entrance at 10:45 a.m. A Celebration of Darlene’s Life for family and friends will follow at the Army Navy Air Force Veterans Club (359-1st Ave. N.) in Saskatoon at 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Sask. Inc. (2550 12 Ave, Regina, SK S4P 3X1) in Darlene’s name. Arrangements in care of John Schachtel - Mourning Glory Funeral Services 306-978-5200