Darlene A. Barber

Darlene Mae Barber
DARLENE MAE BARBER, age 79 of Waterville, died on Sunday, February 5, 2017 at her home surrounded by her family.
Born in Waseca on March 29, 1937, Darlene was the daughter of Michael and Hattie (Born) Balfe. She graduated from Montgomery High School in 1955. She married Kenneth Barber in 1958 and together they raised five children. She worked for Prudential in Minneapolis, Spoors in Le Center, Herters in Waseca, and was later employed by Brown Printing of Waseca for over 35 years. Darlene enjoyed collecting angels, Santa Clauses, and butterflies. She was always up for a good discussion on politics and loved her Irish heritage. Her family was everything to her. Each one of them will miss her singing "Happy Birthday" on their phones each year. She was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Waterville.
Darlene is survived by four children, Thomas (Brenda) Barber of Waterville, Mary Jo (Robert) Blanchard of Le Center, Nancy (Mark) Phillips of Norris City, IL, and Molly Slechta of Waterville; and also Bob Slechta of Waterville. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, Kristin (Luke) Andrews of Lake Crystal, Stephanie (Brady) Flatau of Waseca, Amanda (Nick) Sammon of Waterville, Madison Barber of Waterville, B.J. Barber of Illinois, Lacey Barber of Clarksville, TN, Michaela (Jordan Rister) Barber of Norris City, IL, Kari Jo (Cam) Roepke of Shakopee, Joe (Heidi) Barber of Le Center, Samantha (Phil Andringa) Barber of Granada, Hattie (Thomas McKoskey) Phillips of Albert Lea, Maggie Phillips of Norris City, IL, Robbie (Abbey Lange) Slechta of Morristown, and RaeLynn, Tyler, and Katie Slechta of Waterville; and 16 great grandchildren, Makenna, Annalise, Taylor, Tegan, Brooklyn, Riley, Reed, Rayel, Kayla, Kenyon, Regan, Reese, Hudson, Aiden, Mayta, and one more on the way; one brother, Gordon (Jacquie) Balfe of Minneapolis; sisters-in-law, Sharon Balfe of Inver Grove Heights and Sharon Balfe of Kilkenny; and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son, Richard; one granddaughter, Jamie; two sisters, Anna Marie and Delores; and two brothers, Billy and Dewey.
Visitation will be held from 2-5PM on Sunday, February 12, 2017 at Dennis Funeral & Cremation Services in Waterville, and will continue for one hour before the service at the church on Monday.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM on Monday, February 13, 2017 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Waterville, with Rev. Michael Ince officiating. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Kilkenny.