KUHN, Darlene Valentina Alexy (Szczepanski) – of Sanford, NC, formerly of Davison, MI, went home to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at the age of 83 following a brief battle with cancer. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 1 PM Thursday, May 9, 2024 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 404 North Dayton Street, Davison, MI 48423; Rev. Fr. Andrew A. Czajkowski celebrant. Entombment immediately following the Mass in St. John Catholic Cemetery. The family will receive visitors 11:30 AM-1 PM Thursday, May 9, 2024 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church to have masses offered in Darlene’s memory.
A “Valentine baby”, she was born on February 14, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan. Darlene was known as “Bean” in her youth and “Pudge” by her children. She attended St. Anne’s Catholic Grade School and graduated from Warren High School in 1959. She was a cherished member of St. Thecla Catholic Church in Clinton Twp. and St. John’s the Evangelical in Davison, each for more than 20 years. At St John’s, she volunteered in the Resurrection Choir, served as a Eucharistic minister and also delivered communion to the homebound. She also volunteered for the Outreach East Emergency Resource Center. Since spending her winters in NC beginning in 2016 and eventually moving there, she attended St. Stephen’s in Sanford, NC. Darlene was a dedicated health professional with a special gift for providing compassionate care to the elderly. She served as an Admissions Director at Warren Memorial Hospital in the 1960s. After raising her family, she became a Social Worker and later a Leasing Director at various properties, retiring from Woodhaven Senior Community of Flint, MI in 2007. Darlene had impeccable style and an infectious laugh. She found joy in spending time with her family, tending to her many plants and flowers, playing cards, watching movies and theater performances, dancing, bowling, holiday decorating and baking. She liked to travel and spoke often of her exciting trips to Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Florida, London, Hawaii and also Poland where her father was born. But her favorite memories were of time spent at her lake home with family and friends in Caseville, MI. The annual Szczepanski family reunion was the highlight of her summers, which were held in honor of her mother’s birthday. Darlene was known for sending thoughtful greeting cards on all occasions to loved ones, and giving generously to the charities she supported.
She was a devoted mother and will be deeply missed by many, especially her two daughters, Pamela Gerke of Davison, MI and Susan Brisendine (Shawn) of Sanford, NC; her eight beloved grandchildren, Paul (Katie), Ashley, Kevin, Jonathan, Kenzie, Nina, Will and Brody; two precious great-grandchildren Hadley and Harper. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Agnes Szczepanski; seven brothers and sisters; several nieces and nephews; husbands, Russell Alexy and Jerome Kuhn.
Her example of unconditional love and her wise advice to be kind and not worry are forever imprinted onto our hearts.