Darlene Jean (Kirchhoff) Reilly Fitzgerald

Darlene J. Fitzgerald of Granbury, age 80 was peacefully called home to be with the Lord,on March 6, 2018 in Granbury, Texas.
A celebration of life gathering will be held at a later date.
Darlene was born on March 15,1937 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Arthur Albert Kirchhoff and June Elmira Disch. She married James Kirtland Reilly in 1958 and together they had three children. James was a career officer in the U. S. Marine Corps and retired as a Colonel. James and Darlene divorced in August of 1979.
Darlene was employed by Pepperdine University as the coordinator for their military extension Master’s Degree Program in Human Resources Management in and around New Orleans in the early 80’s. It was there she met Carmond Craig Fitzgerald during Mardi Gras in 1980. Following a two-year courtship, they were married on April 25,1982.
Darlene enjoyed entertaining friends and family and was known as “the hostess with the mostess” during her husband’s career in the U. S. Coast Guard. Darlene regularly volunteered to help with service and veterans organizations – during a tour of duty in San Diego she was selected as 11Volunteer of the Year” for both the Armed Services YMCA and the Navy League. Upon moving to their retirement home in Granbury in 1998 Darlene was a contributing member of the Pecan Plantation Women’s Club, the Newcomers Club, and sang with the Melody Belles and was selected as their President in 2001-2002. Darlene was an avid bridge player and could often be found at a bridge table with friends. Darlene loved animals and always had dogs and cats included as members of the family. They were treated so well that friends would comment that they wished to be reincarnated as one of them! Diagnosed in 2008 with Alzheimer’s disease, Darlene resided at Arbor House Memory Care in her final years.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers the family requests that you consider sending a memorial donation to one of the following organizations: Alzheimer’s Association- North Central Texas Chapter, 2630 West Freeway, Ste. 100, Ft Worth, Texas 76102-7117; Friends for Animals,2885 Fall Creek Hwy,Granbury,Texas 76049; or Best Friends Animal Society, 2005 South 1100 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84106.
Darlene is survived by her loving husband of 35 years, Carmond Fitzgerald; her children James Reilly and wife Cate; Kristina Reilly; Robert Reilly and wife Monica; sister Barbara Hanlon and husband Terry; brother Kirk Kirchhoff; grandchildren Cameron Reilly and wife Rakhat, Samantha Bicer, and Valerie Reilly; and great grandchildren Maxim and Gemre Bicer.
Darlene will be missed but we rejoice in knowing that she is now in the presence of the Lord, experiencing everlasting peace, love and joy!