Darlene Betty (Svoma) Heskett, age 71, passed away Dec. 14, 2012, at Appleton Healthcare Center with her family present. Darlene’s life on earth, along with her twin sister, Charlene, began on May 19, 1941, on the farm in Cornell, Wis., born to parents Joseph and Julia (Stanek) Svoma.

Darlene was blessed with three children: George Ouimet, Jr. (Pattee) and their four children; Dawn Ouimet and her three children; Beth (Ouimet) Cochran (Rick) and their five children. Bonus children are Todd Heskett (Hillary) and their two children and Dawn Knaus and her three children. She is also survived by great-grandchildren.

Darlene was one of seven children: Bohumil Svoma (deceased) Lorraine Wilcox, Joseph Svoma Jr., Katherine Browne, Charlene Harding, and Nadine Van Lieshout.

For 25 years Darlene was a successful manager of Convienient Food Mart, in the Highlands, Ledyard, Conn., and especially liked serving customers in the Yum-Yum-Shoppe.

In 1997, Darlene moved to Appleton, Wis., where she met and married her husband, Frank. Their involvement with the ABC House in Appleton brought Darlene much pride as a chef and she developed loving relationships with the students participating in the program. To please the palates of the students, she would prepare their favorite: “The Ultimate Pizza Roll.” Painting on shelf fungi, using acrylics and oil to paint scenery, deer, and flowers was her favorite hobby. When she wasn’t painting, she was “playing” in her flower garden.

The Heskett home has been Grand Central Station for her sisters and friends. She will be missed by many.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2600 East Phillip Lane, Appleton. Friends and family may gather from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service.

Because of Darlene’s love for the ABC House, please consider a gift to the ABC House in memory of Darlene.

ABC House is at 410 Washington Street Appleton, WI 54911