Darlene Marie Anderson, age 73, passed away at Middleton Village Assisted Living on Friday, December 20, 2024. She was born in Madison on November 9, 1951, to the late Irvin and Minnie (Knudtson) Anderson, the youngest of four girls. Darlene grew up in Windsor but graduated from Sun Prairie High School. She worked for many years at the pharmacy in Deforest, and later as a housekeeper at the Super 8 Hotel in Windsor.

After her parents passed, Darlene enjoyed her independence and did well living on her own. She lived at the senior center in DeForest and would often serve coffee at the community center. She looked forward to her interactions with others, and enjoyed going anywhere. Due to her many health issues, she knew her healthcare professionals by first name and always told them she loved them. She actually enjoyed being admitted to the hospital, where she was treated like a queen. During her last visit, she bartered taking medicine for ice cream.

She was a Badger and Packer fan, often recalling the scores and highlights in conversations.

Darlene loved music, especially country music, and was fortunate to have taken trips to both Branson and Nashville. In her younger years, she also traveled to California, Minnesota, Florida, Arizona, Montana and Georgia to visit family members.

Darlene was a skilled knitter, learning from her cousin Joan. Darlene would knit a hat and Joan would sew it together and add the puffy ball on top. Joan helped Darlene a lot, and treated her as her own daughter.

She saved her money to buy an organ instead of a car, and provided friends and family with entertainment for years. She spent her teenage years learning from Chuck Evans at Ward Brodt, someone that was very special to her.

She is survived by her sisters, LuAnne Frolick, Clearwater, FL, and Diane (Bob) Hein, Spring Hill, FL; her niece and advocate, Tami and Mike Strang, Prairie du Sac, WI; and her nephews, Todd (Pam) Reddeman, Alpharetta, GA, Patrick (Lori) Freeland, Murphy, TX, and Paul (Heidi) Freeland, Madison, WI. She is further survived by beloved cousins, great nieces and nephews, and several other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Marilyn and her special cousin, Joan (Delbert) Jellings.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at Hooverson Funeral Home, 251 Water St., Sauk City.  A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.  Burial will be held in the Norway Grove Cemetery, DeForest.

Darlene's family asks that memorials be made in her name to the Dane Co. Epilepsy Foundation.    www.epilepsywisconsin.org

Online condolences may be made at hooversonfuneralhomes.com