In Loving Memory of
Darlene E.
Desrochers
(nee Sierens)
age 78

Lovingly remembered by her children Corinna, Rodney, Kenneth, and Brent as well as their families. 

Died
October 7, 2025
At her Residence
Pilot Mound, Manitoba

Public Viewing
Friday, October 17, 2025
Wheatland Funeral Home
Pilot Mound, Manitoba
4:00—5:00 p.m.

Memorial Mass
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic Church
Mariapolis, Manitoba
2:00 p.m.

To view the recorded service, please click here.

Donations in memory of Darlene may be made to 
Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic Church;
PO Box 85 Swan Lake, MB R0G 2S0.

 

Darlene Erma Desrochers (nee Sierens)

June 13th, 1947 – October 7th, 2025

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of our mom, Darlene, suddenly at her residence on October 7th, 2025 at the age of 78.

Darlene will be lovingly remembered by her children Corinna (Dale), Rodney, Kenneth (Darla), Brent, her mom Gerarda, and her brother Randy (Kristel).

She also leaves to mourn her grandchildren; Carly (Curtis), Cody, Breanne (Brandon), Brooke (Kody), Kayla, Kassandra (William), Katrina (Ryler), Kensey (David), Aaliyah and Raylan, along with Great Grandchildren; Scottie, Brette, Brooks, Ryder, Ace, Hensley and Noah.  She will be remembered by her nephews and nieces; Trevor, Connor (Leah), Kali (Jay), and Grandnieces; Sloan and Macie.  Darlene was predeceased by father Maurice and grandparents.

Darlene, our beloved mother, was the heart of our family. Her love was like a warm embrace that enveloped us all, making us feel safe, cherished and capable of anything.

Darlene was born to parents of Gerarda and Maurice Sierens on June 13th, 1947 in Swan Lake, Manitoba.

In 1949 Maurice, Gerarda and daughter Darlene came to live in Glenora. They had previously lived in St. Alphonse district.

Darelene became an older sister when her brother Randy was born in 1960.

Life is not always fair. Darlene lost her father at an early age of 36, whom she dearly loved.

Darlene married Marcel Desrochers in 1965. They lived on the farm near Mariapolis, later moving to Glenora on the farm they purchased from Gerarda.

From 1975 – 1998 Darlene and Marcel continued to farm. Marcel and Darlene had four children, Corinna – born in 1966, Rodney in 1967, Kenneth in 1969, and Brent in 1975.

Darlene was a dedicated mother and wife, but also worked as a Teacher’s Assistant in Glenora School and drove a school bus in the Glenora district.

In Glenora, Darlene was very active in numerous organizations. She helped with the publishing of the history book, “Gleaning of the Past”, helping out organizing the Christmas concert, and even participating in and displaying her acting skills in the “Glenora Plays”. Curling was also enjoyed for a short period of time.

In 1999, Darlene and Marcel went their separate ways.  Darlene moved to Pilot Mound and bought her uncle’s house, living there for 25 years. Glenora would also remain her “home”, but as life changes – we must move on.

Darlene continued to work for Windy Bay Colony after moving to Pilot Mound. The love of teaching continued at Windy Bay Colony for 23 years. She created lasting friendships and so many memories.

Darlene also worked for Prairie Spirit School Division, receiving her 40 year award and then retired.

After a year of retirement, her passion for teaching took her back to the classroom. She worked as a substitute teacher and Educational Assistant for a period of time in several schools.

Darlene’s love extended beyond our family.  She had a way of making everyone feel welcome in her home. Friends, neighbours, even strangers – Darlene treated them all like family. Her generosity knew no bounds, and her kindness touched countless lives.

Darlene enjoyed shopping, garage sales and Thrift stores. Darlene would come home with many new treasures. This would lead to Darlene having her own garage sales.

Darlene was one of the original members of the “Pilot Mound Red Hat Society” that started in October of 2006.  Then she joined the “Crown Jewels of Canada Society” when they started in October of 2009.  In September, 2023 – Darlene and Paula Watson flew to Toronto and attended the Toronto Convention.

Darelene was devoted to her Roman Catholic faith. She attended services regularly and was very active in her church.

Her love for her family was limitless.  She poured her heart into creating a home filled with laughter, warm, and comfort.  Happy memories were made with her children and grandchildren; attending events such as hockey, curling, figure skating, 4-H, and community affairs.

Along with all this, Darlene still found time to do things she enjoyed; crafts, sudoku, gardening, taking pictures, drama, reading and travelling.  She enjoyed playing many musical instruments, such as; the accordion, keyboard, and guitar.  In later years, she learned the ukulele. 

Darlene ventured to Europe, where she and her mother travelled through 9 countries.  She travelled to visit her children in other provinces for special occasions too.

There was a funeral at Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic Church in Mariapolis on October 18, 2025.  A family interment will take place at a later date in the Mariapolis Roman Catholic Cemetery.

As we say good-bye, we find comfort in knowing that Darlene’s spirit will always remain with us.  Her lessons, her laughter, and her love will continue to guide us everyday.  We miss her deeply, but we are endlessly grateful for the time we shared and the light she brought into our lives.

Thank you Darlene – for everything.  You will always be loved, remembered, and cherished.

 

Eulogy

Good Afternoon everyone, 
We are gathered here today to remember and celebrate the life of Darlene, a beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and friend.
For those who don’t know me, I am Breanne – daughter of Rodney – grand daughter to Darlene.
Darlene, was a beloved mother, she was the heart of our family.  Her love was like a warm embrace, making us feel safe, cherished and capable of anything.
Darlene was born to parents of Gerards and Maurice Sierens on June 13th, 1947 in Swan Lake, Manitoba.
In 1949 Maurice, Gerarda and daughter Darlene came to live in Glenora. They had previously lived in St. Alphonse district.
Darlene became an older sister when her brother Randy was born in 1960.
Life is not always fair. Darlene lost her father at an early age of 36, whom she dearly loved.
Darelene married Marcel Desrochers in 1965.  They lived on the farm near Mariapolis, later moving to Glenora on the farm they purchased from Gerarda.
From 1975 – 1998 Darlene and Marcel continued to farm. Marcel and Darlene had four children, Corinna – born 1966, Rodney in 1967, Kenneth in 1969, and Brent in 1975.
Darlene was a dedicated mother and wife, but also worked as a Teacher’s Assistant in Glenora School and drove a school bus in the Glenora district.
In Glenora, Darlene was very active in numerous organizations.  She helped with the publishing of the history book, “Gleaning of the Past”, organizing the Christmas concerts, and even participating in and displaying her acting skills in the “Glenora Plays”. Curling was also enjoyed for a short period of time.
In 1999, Darlene and Marcel went their separate ways. Darlene moved to Pilot Mound and bought her uncle’s house, living there for 25 years. Glenora would also remain her “home”, but as life changes – we must move on.
Darlene continued to work for Windy Bay Colony after moving to Pilot Mound. The love of teaching continued at the Windy Bay Colony for 23 years.  She created lasting friendships and so many memories.
Darlene also worked for Prairie Spirit School Division, receiving her 40 year award and then retired.
After a year of retirement, her passion for teaching took her back to the classroom. She worked as a substitute teacher and Educational Assistant for a period of time in several schools.
Darlene’s love extended beyond our family. She had a way of making everyone feel welcome in her home. Friends, Neighbours, even strangers – Darlene treated them all like family. Her generosity knew no bounds, and her kindness touched countless lives.
Darlene was one of the original members of the “Pilot Mound Red Hat Society” that started in October of 2006.  Then she joined the “Crown Jewels of Canada Society” when they started in October of 2009.  In September, 2023 – Darlene and Paula Watson flew to Toronto and attended the Toronto Convention.
Darlene was devoted to her Roman Catholic faith.  She attended services regularly and was very active in her church.
Her love for her family was limitless.  She poured her heart into creating a home filled with laughter, warmth, and comfort.  Happy memories were made with her children and grandchildren; attending events such as hockey, curling, figure skating, 4-H, and community affairs.
Along with all this, Darlene still found time to do things she enjoyed; crafts, sudoku, gardening, taking pictures, drama, reading and travelling.
She was also a bit of a musician; playing many musical instruments, such as; the accordion, keyboard, and guitar.  In later years, she even learned the ukulele. 
She travelled to multiple provinces supporting her family members during special occasions such as birthdays, graduations, weddings, and new babies.  She even went International, venturing to Europe, where she and her mother travelled through 9 different countries.
Now, I’ll share a few memories and words from each one of her children.
Corinna – 
Corinna and Grandma Darlene shared a special mother-daughter bond and enjoyed spending time together.  One of their favourite things together was shopping, hitting the garage sales, and attending thrift stores. They would shop ‘till they dropped and grandma would come home with many new treasures, which led her to having her own garage sales. Corinna considered her mom an inspiration and her best friend – someone she could always count on – no matter what.  She will always cherish the memories.                                       

Rodney – 
Rod said Mom was always there – through rain or shine, no matter what.  I remember her getting me to hockey games, no matter how early or how bad the weather was. She never missed a moment, always putting others before herself.  In the hard times and in the good, she was my rock – the one who held everyone together.  Her quiet strength and constant love were the glue of our family, and we’ll always carry that with us.

Kenny – 
Grandma Darlene truly cherished her visits with Kenny and his kids, whether it was inviting them over for Sunday lunches – where she would encourage them to attend church services – or meeting them at the various fairs throughout the summer.  She was a constant in their lives.
Brent – 
Brent is comforted in this moment of loss, by memories of a mother whose strength never wavered. She never gave up on me or my siblings, even though I’m sure there were times she wanted to give us a good shake. She was a woman of true resilience, with a spirit that could light up any room.
As I reflect, memories come rushing back – fragments of a woman who never stopped or loving or entertaining her children.
One story stands out from our time in Jamaica, when our family took a day trip to Dunn’s River Falls. True to her determined nature, Mom insisted on climbing the entire waterfall, both down and back up.  Eventually, she found a spot to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather.  But when I returned to check on her, I was horrified to find her sitting calmly next to a tree covered in banana spiders the size of my hand.  My heart raced as I tried to warn her, but she simply called back, “It’s comfortable here”!  With a mix of laughter and fear, I finally convinced her to move, showing her the new “friends” she’d been sitting with. She just shrugged and said, “I guess I didn’t see them”.
Our grandmother truly had nerves of steel … or … maybe a “I don’t care attitude” in the moments that rattled her children.
Now I’d like to share a couple Memories of my own with you all.  In remembering my grandmother, I think of her immense love for her family – love that stretched across miles and time, even when I lived so far away in Alberta.  No matter the distance, she was always there for every milestone in my life, cheering me on, loving me unconditionally.  She made sure we all knew how important family was to her.  Of course, the only thing that could rival her love for us was her love for Diet Coke – honestly, I think she could have survived on that alone!
One of my fondest memories is when I became a nurse and had to teach Grandma about her new diabetes diagnosis.  She insisted she was sticking to a healthy diet, but when I found a bag of Hawkins cheezies in her purse, she defended herself saying, “They don’t have sugar”! – with that classic Grandma grin and an eyeroll.
These are only a few of many wonderful memories grandma left us with.  Although, she’s not physically here today, memories of her will live on in our family forever.
As we say good-bye, we find comfort in knowing that Darlene’s spirit will always remain with us.  He lessons, her laughter, and her love will continue to guide us everyday.  We miss her deeply, but we are endlessly grateful for the time we shared and the light she brought into our lives.
Thank you Darelene – for everything. You will always be loved, remembered, and cherished.