Darlene Katherine Gildea, 90, Glencoe
Darlene Katherine (Heinen) Gildea, 90, of Glencoe, died Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, at Glencoe Regional Health Services Long Term Care.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, Aug. 12, at Church of St. Pius X in Glencoe, with the Rev. Anthony Stubeda officiating. Jacob Beutler was the reader. Jill Probst and Jamie Thoele were the gift bearers. Mary Ann Thalmann was the organist and song leaders were Gus and Irene Makovsky. Congregational hymns were “Here I Am, Lord,” “On Eagle’s Wings,” “I Am the Bread of Life,” “Song of Farewell” and “Amazing Grace.”
Honorary casket bearers were Mrs. Gildea’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Casket bearers were Jim Gildea, Joshua Beutler, Jason Gildea, Charlton Gildea, Kyle Gildea, Jordan Gildea and Stacy Syrett.
Interment was in the Glencoe Catholic Cemetery.
Darlene Katherine (Heinen) Gildea was born April 1, 1926, in St. Cloud, the daughter of William and Mary (Daml) Heinen. She was baptized on April 5, 1926, at Holy Angels Catholic Church in St. Cloud. She received her first communion on July 30, 1936, and was confirmed in her faith on July 6, 1941, both at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pine City. She received her education in Jarvis Bay, Pine City, through the eighth grade.
On May 14, 1949, she was united in marriage to Norman James Gildea at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Glencoe. They made their home in Glencoe. In February 2008, Mrs. Gildea moved to Orchard Estates in Glencoe. Their marriage was blessed with seven children, James, Sharon, Steven, Charles, Daniel, Donald and Scott. They shared 29 years of marriage before Mr. Gildea’s death on Jan. 19, 1979.
In the early 1940s, Mrs. Gildea worked various jobs, including a drug store, candy shop and Honeywell in Minneapolis. In 1947, when she moved to Glencoe, she worked at Strutware. In addition to being a loving wife, mother and homemaker, Mrs. Gildea helped her husband at the Mobil and Standard stations as a bookkeeper. She was a member of Church of St. Pius X in Glencoe.
Mrs. Gildea was always a busy and happy lady. She loved to help her husband and support her children at their school events. She enjoyed camping, fishing, traveling, walking, playing cards, bingo, sweets and socializing with others. She cherished the time spent with her family and friends.
She is survived by her children and their spouses, Sharon and Raymond Beutler of Milbank, South Dakota, Steven and Jackie Gildea of Glencoe, Charles and Julie Gildea of Arlington, Daniel and Jean Gildea of Glencoe, Donald and Julie Gildea of Victoria and Scott and Penny Gildea of Glencoe; 21 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; sisters, Eileen Rys of Pine City and Eleanor Pawlicki of Glencoe; brother, Robert Heinen of Phoenix, Arizona; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Mary Heinen; husband, Norman Gildea; son, James Gildea; brother, Clair Heinen; sister, Betty Kurtz; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Frank Rys, Elgin Kurtz, George Kollar, Marge Heinen, Juanita Heinen and Mary Jo Kollar.
Arrangements were with the Johnson-McBride Funeral Chapel in Glencoe. Online obituaries and guest book can be found at www.hantge.com.
