Darlene Shafer Belles, lost her battle with cancer and passed away January 3, 2017. She had fought a good fight for 25 years and was in excruciating pain at the end. May she finally rest in peace.
Darlene was a fun person to be with. I will miss her. Below is a poem that I saw in a graveyard. I think that it is appropriate to this very precious person.
THE DAY GOD CALLED SISTER DARLENE HOME
GOD LOOKED AROUND HIS GARDEN AND HE FOUND AN EMPTY PLACE, HE THEN LOOKED DOWN UPON EARTH AND SAW OUR SISTER DARLENE’S TIRED FACE. HE PUT HIS ARMS AROUND HER AND LIFTED HER TO REST. GOD'S GARDEN MUST BE BEAUTIFULL, HE ALWAYS TAKES THE BEST. HE KNEW THAT OUR SISTER WAS SUFFERING, HE KNEW SHE WAS IN PAIN, HE KNEW THAT THIS SAINT WOULD NEVER GET WELL ON EARTH AGAIN. GOD SAW THE ROAD WAS GETTING ROUGH AND THE HILLS WERE HARD TO CLIMB, SO HE CLOSED DARLENE’S WEARY EYELIDS AND WHISPERED "PEACE BE THINE". IT BROKE OUR HEARTS TO LOSE THIS PRECIOUS PERSON, OUR SISTER, BUT SHE DIDN'T GO ALONE, FOR PART OF US WENT WITH HER, THE DAY GOD CALLED OUR, SISTER, HOME.
I had a chance to talk with Darlene at our reunion and catch up with her. In my eyes, she was a real hero and made lemon aid out of lemons. She had a great character and I admired her very much.
God has called her home where she can rest and finally find peace. She fought a heroic battle with class and dignity. R.I.P. My dear friend. God Speed!
To my dear friend, Darlene, or Dee as we now call her:
You have fought a great battle over the years but God decided it was time to bring you home where your body will be renewed and the pain will be gone. You have been a true friend to all that know you and especially to me. Farewell for now. One of these days we will see each other again.
I have lots of Darlene experiences and here are a couple that stand out
For a few years Darlene and I attended the same grammar school. In Jr. HS we went our separate ways only to reunite at MSHS. It was the few years at Robert Hill Lane that I really remember. One Halloween in particular. We were in costume, lined up to parade around the play ground. Darlene was in front of me, dressed in a grass skirt, She turned around and I was sure she was looking at me, sort of down her nose. At our last reunion I told her about it and we did a dance to commemorate this event. We had so much fun and laughed about that long ago Halloween and the dance we were doing. I believe there is a photo of us in the reunion photos. By now, eveyone probably is familiar with the 'lady in red' saga. We had so much fun with that. I never pass the trophy she gave me, of a lady in red, without smiling.
Darlene had a great spirit and is and was an inspiration to many. She lived her life to the fullest with a smile. Rest in peace my friend. Your memory is a blessing to all of us who loved you.
So sorry about Dee's passing. She fought such a heroic fight. She was such a positive person, and I shall miss her. Thoughts and prayers go to her family. Rest In Peace Darlene.
My first thought that came to mind of Dee, is that at our reunions over the years. The reunion did not start until Dee came bounding in with all her exuberant, exciting, happy "Deeisum". She was one of a kind and I am thankful to have known her.
I remember having different classes with Darlene.. one class in particular..Was Drama, what fun we all had..Lot of us jumped in her boy friends car going to Down Town LA..Where we attended A drama production UCLA.. Darlene, Will Always lives in our Memory .. Who could not remember this person called Darlene Shaeffer .. She was one of a kind !! I Lossed My Son He was all of 51yrs... The loss of Someone We Love is the hardest thing too Endur.
Goodby, God Bless Till We All Meet Again in The House of Our Lord "Jesus Christ
I will remember Dee as a whirlwind of energy at our reunions, an optimistic fighter against the cancer in her body, an outgoing woman with a big heart who enjoyed life to its fullest. She will be missed by the Class of 1959.
Based on my contact with Darlene at the last few reunions, you'd never know she had a health issue - always smiling and full of "piss and vinegar"! R.I.P. Darlene.
Ephraim G. Flores
Darlene was a fun person to be with. I will miss her. Below is a poem that I saw in a graveyard. I think that it is appropriate to this very precious person.
THE DAY GOD CALLED SISTER DARLENE HOME
GOD LOOKED AROUND HIS GARDEN AND HE FOUND AN EMPTY PLACE, HE THEN LOOKED DOWN UPON EARTH AND SAW OUR SISTER DARLENE’S TIRED FACE. HE PUT HIS ARMS AROUND HER AND LIFTED HER TO REST. GOD'S GARDEN MUST BE BEAUTIFULL, HE ALWAYS TAKES THE BEST. HE KNEW THAT OUR SISTER WAS SUFFERING, HE KNEW SHE WAS IN PAIN, HE KNEW THAT THIS SAINT WOULD NEVER GET WELL ON EARTH AGAIN. GOD SAW THE ROAD WAS GETTING ROUGH AND THE HILLS WERE HARD TO CLIMB, SO HE CLOSED DARLENE’S WEARY EYELIDS AND WHISPERED "PEACE BE THINE". IT BROKE OUR HEARTS TO LOSE THIS PRECIOUS PERSON, OUR SISTER, BUT SHE DIDN'T GO ALONE, FOR PART OF US WENT WITH HER, THE DAY GOD CALLED OUR, SISTER, HOME.
Renee Lamont (Hendrick)
I had a chance to talk with Darlene at our reunion and catch up with her. In my eyes, she was a real hero and made lemon aid out of lemons. She had a great character and I admired her very much.
God has called her home where she can rest and finally find peace. She fought a heroic battle with class and dignity. R.I.P. My dear friend. God Speed!
Renee LaMont Hendrick
Vicky McDonnell (Franks)
To my dear friend, Darlene, or Dee as we now call her:
You have fought a great battle over the years but God decided it was time to bring you home where your body will be renewed and the pain will be gone. You have been a true friend to all that know you and especially to me. Farewell for now. One of these days we will see each other again.
Vicky McDonnell Franks
Nancy Destaute
When I think of Dee I think of a person who lived life to the fullest despite her circumstances.
a person with an amazing faith and human spirit who never gave up . A courageous wonderful
woman, a devoted friend and lover of life.
You will be missed. It was a gift to have known you.
Rest in Piece!
Linda Greenfield (Bear)
I have lots of Darlene experiences and here are a couple that stand out
For a few years Darlene and I attended the same grammar school. In Jr. HS we went our separate ways only to reunite at MSHS. It was the few years at Robert Hill Lane that I really remember. One Halloween in particular. We were in costume, lined up to parade around the play ground. Darlene was in front of me, dressed in a grass skirt, She turned around and I was sure she was looking at me, sort of down her nose. At our last reunion I told her about it and we did a dance to commemorate this event. We had so much fun and laughed about that long ago Halloween and the dance we were doing. I believe there is a photo of us in the reunion photos. By now, eveyone probably is familiar with the 'lady in red' saga. We had so much fun with that. I never pass the trophy she gave me, of a lady in red, without smiling.
Darlene had a great spirit and is and was an inspiration to many. She lived her life to the fullest with a smile. Rest in peace my friend. Your memory is a blessing to all of us who loved you.
Joan Orshoff (Marks)
So sorry about Dee's passing. She fought such a heroic fight. She was such a positive person, and I shall miss her. Thoughts and prayers go to her family. Rest In Peace Darlene.
Ruth Ann Crowe (McCormack)
My first thought that came to mind of Dee, is that at our reunions over the years. The reunion did not start until Dee came bounding in with all her exuberant, exciting, happy "Deeisum". She was one of a kind and I am thankful to have known her.
Rosalie Aune (Nash)
I remember having different classes with Darlene.. one class in particular..Was Drama, what fun we all had..Lot of us jumped in her boy friends car going to Down Town LA..Where we attended A drama production UCLA.. Darlene, Will Always lives in our Memory .. Who could not remember this person called Darlene Shaeffer .. She was one of a kind !! I Lossed My Son He was all of 51yrs... The loss of Someone We Love is the hardest thing too Endur.
Goodby, God Bless Till We All Meet Again in The House of Our Lord "Jesus Christ
Jerre Shelver (Glasgow)
I will remember Dee as a whirlwind of energy at our reunions, an optimistic fighter against the cancer in her body, an outgoing woman with a big heart who enjoyed life to its fullest. She will be missed by the Class of 1959.
Carol A. Sheckler (Herriage)
Based on my contact with Darlene at the last few reunions, you'd never know she had a health issue - always smiling and full of "piss and vinegar"! R.I.P. Darlene.