Born in Oregon, February 4, 1967, Darlene lived her life with an extraordinary capacity for love, kindness, creativity, and service to others.

She deeply loved her work as a therapist, and addictions counsellor, and found meaning in being of service to the people whose lives she was able to touch. Helping others was not simply her profession; it was an important part of who she was. She cared deeply about people, and brought compassion, understanding, and kindness to those who found their way into her life.

She was a devoted wife, daughter, and friend, and she loved with her whole heart.

Darlene was also an artist in every sense of the word. She painted, sculpted, and worked in mixed media, with watercolour and acrylic among her favourite forms of expression. She loved colour — all of it. Colour brought her joy, and she seemed to need it around her as much as she needed creativity itself.

Her love of animals was just as boundless. Fin, feather, or fur, it made little difference to Darlene — she wanted to love them all, and preferably have them all around her all of the time. Cats, dogs, and horses held especially important places in her heart, with horses defining most of her life.

Darlene’s life was not an easy one. She faced challenges that would have overwhelmed many, including fighting her way back from a traumatic brain injury, completing her Master’s degree, and ultimately confronting an aggressive, metastasizing cancer face to face. Again and again, she found the strength to continue forward.

During her illness, Darlene encountered dozens of doctors, nurses, caregivers, counsellors, support workers, and others who helped care for her. She was deeply grateful for them. The kindness she received throughout her battle touched her profoundly and often moved her emotionally. She wanted those who cared for her to know how much their compassion meant to her.

Darlene described her life as an adventure — an exciting one — and her great regret was simply that she wished it could have lasted longer.

Perhaps more than anything, Darlene lived love and kindness rather than merely speaking about them. That way of moving through the world inspired the people who knew her, and no one more deeply than her husband, who had the privilege of loving her, being loved by her, and sharing in her remarkable adventure.

She will be missed beyond words, remembered in colour and through animals, and will be carried forward in the love and kindness she gave so freely.