Courageous, beautiful, inspirational, life-giving, a lover and follower of Jesus, lover of people, and lover of the “deal of the day,” our beloved Barbara June Darke (71 yrs) went peacefully to her eternal home on September 6, 2021, surrounded by her family and friends and “a whole lotta love” at Mission Hospital, her home away from home. Though we may weep at this hour with this incredible loss, we know that our dear Barbara is experiencing a new dawn full of perfect joy and peace in the presence of her Savior, Jesus Christ. For that, we rejoice!
Barbara hugely impacted countless people throughout her full, well-lived life. A loving wife of 51 years, mom, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, she never met a stranger and only offered truth, joy, wit, humor, loving kindness, fun, and free hugs with whatever group of “loved ones” she was with at the time. With the gift of gab as her superpower and her servant heart as her secret weapon, she was able to draw people together at all times and in all places. She loved well and deeply.
Barbara J. Greene was born on December 12, 1949, in Inglewood, CA and spent her childhood through high school years in south Sacramento, where she met her future husband, an Air Force Sergeant who was stationed at nearby Mather AFB. Shortly after graduating from JFK High School in Sacramento, she moved with her family to Mission Viejo in 1969. One year later, she married her first and only love, Steve Darke, in 1970. After four years in Irvine, they bought a house in Mission Viejo. Little did they know that house would become their home where they would spend the rest of their lives together. She cherished her 2 sons, Ryan and Phil, and of course, fell even more in love with her “daughters–in-love,” Kim and Becca, as they were the daughters she never had. Her sons and their wives blessed her with 9 beautiful grandchildren who became the apples of her eye. She always told them that she “loved each one of them as if there was only one of them.” For the last 23 years, she spent every waking hour thinking about them and making FUN plans for her many visits. She made “being together” her priority and never missed an opportunity to hug them close and say, “I love you, forever!” She cherished her family like no other including, her 2 sisters, Donna and Janet, and all her many extended relatives. She believed in “big family love” and lived every day like it was her last. And duly noted, she was always FAIR!
While raising her two boys, Barbara decided to return to school to become a registered nurse, for which she found such great purpose that she never wanted to retire. And she didn’t. Serving faithfully for just short of 40 years as a registered and certified critical care nurse (CCRN), she worked at 3 different hospitals in OC with her longest and latest tenure being at Mission Hospital (29.5 yrs). She was a “mom” to all, loved by all, a sought-after preceptor to young nurses, and was with her Mission family until the very end. Barbara will be remembered as a hero who fell in the line of duty. She is grateful for her Mission Cardiac Unit team (last 11.5 yrs) and the honor it was to work side-by-side her beloved colleagues doing “God’s work”, as she often referred to it.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Steve, 2 sons, Ryan and Philip, 2 daughters- in-law, 9 grandchildren, 2 sisters, numerous nieces and nephews, and all of you who considered her a friend. Her legacy will live on through all who knew her… and they are many!
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Barbara's memory may be made to Providence World, https://providenceworld.com/invest/; and Mount Hermon, https://www.mounthermon.org/give/. See links below.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.fairhavenmemorialservices.com for the Darke family.
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