Frances Darlene Fitzgerald

Frances “Darlene” Fitzgerald, age 90, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Parkridge Specialty Care in Pleasant Hill while under the care of Care Initiatives Hospice.

Darlene was born September 18, 1934, in Des Moines, Iowa to George F. and Elda (DeMoss) Mills. At the age of 14, she married the love of her life, Mac “Leroy” Fitzgerald. Darlene dedicated her life to caring for others. She was primarily a mother and homemaker, but also worked in housekeeping at Vets Auditorium and was a driver for Iowa Commission for the Blind. During the Christmas season, she worked as a gift-wrapper for Younkers downtown.

She enjoyed sewing and could make everything from clothes for her children to wedding dresses. She also quilted and was a member of a quilting club, making hundreds of quilts that were donated to women’s shelters, Hope Ministry, Lutheran Hospital, Hamilton’s Funeral Home, and Veterans’ organizations. She was a 70-year member of Staves Memorial United Methodist Church.

Darlene enjoyed camping with her family, and she and her husband Leroy were Texas snowbirds three months out of every year, maintaining a large and loving friend group. Darlene had an extensive frog collection that had great meaning to her. She was a child of the Depression, and during that time, her older brother Art would hunt frogs to eat the frog legs for nourishment. As an adult, F.R.O.G. came to stand for Forever Rely on God. Frogs sustained her health as a young person, and her faith in adulthood.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda (Owen) Golay; son, Richard (Gloria) Fitzgerald; son-in-law, Ron; twelve grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; and other loving family and friends.

Darlene was preceded in death by her dear husband, Leroy in 2013; daughter, Kathy Schaffer in 2010; son, Joseph Fitzgerald; parents, George and Elda Mills; and siblings, Ethel Tjernagle, Arthur (Marcy) Mills, Roy (Merle) Mills, Harold (Frances) Mills, and Evelyn (Albin) Haag.

Services will be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at Staves Memorial United Methodist Church, 2747 E Madison Ave, Des Moines, IA. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery after the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to Staves Memorial United Methodist Church.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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