Darlene Ann Dobrovolny

She went on to be graduated from Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Licensed as a Registered Nurse in North Dakota in 1950, she met and married Harry Dobrovolny the following year. The couple relocated to Sacramento where she was licensed as a Registered Nurse and worked as a Staff Nurse for a variety of hospitals and doctors.

She established a home in Carmichael, California where she raised two children and took up the hobbies of Skiing, Bicycling, Needlework, and Square Dancing. For a time she was a Mary Kay cosmetician.

Always striving to be better at her profession, she was graduated from Sonoma State University in 1981 earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. For a time she lived in Rhonert Park, California attending college and working as a Nurse Practitioner. Continuing her Square Dancing hobby, she assisted in organizing square dancing events and was an “Angel” who taught others to square dance.

After keeping her nursing licenses active for 60 years, she retired to Lincoln Hills, California. She enjoyed traveling that included a journey by train across Canada and visits to family and friends in the Midwest.

Darlene’s physical health declined, but her spirit did not wane. She relocated to an assisted living facility in Roseville, California, where she made friends of the residents and staff, organized and participated in many events, including winning a chili cook-off and a Halloween costume contest. Still very active and social despite her own pain, she became a volunteer Ambassador, welcoming new residents, answering questions, and showing them around the facility.

Her last Thanksgiving was spent in Tucson Arizona that included a joyful dinner with family. Shortly thereafter, she succumbed to a stroke, retaining her spirit, intelligence, humor, and joy of life to her last day.

Services will be held January 19, 2015 at Mount Vernon Memorial Park & Mortuary in Fair Oaks at 12:00.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Harry Dobrovolny, sister Vivian Tollefson, and brother Duran Kirschman. She is survived by her son Thomas Dobrovolny, daughter Lorna Dobrovolny, grandsons Erik Dobrovolny and Robert Simons, daughter-in-law Kathleen Dobrovolny, son-in-law Craig Stotenberg, sisters Evelyn Schmitz and Karen Marx, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.