Obituary of Darlene R. Macon

Darlene R. Macon passed away on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at age 89.  Born at home on a dairy farm in Cantonment, Florida to the late Jennie (nee Medici) and Sidney Rasponi, Darlene spent her early years on the farm and her teenage years in Pensacola, Florida, the place she considered her hometown.  She enjoyed being on the beautiful beaches of Pensacola, playing piano and organ, and was an excellent student.  Darlene was close to her parents, her older sister the late Rita (nee Rasponi) Cobb, and her brother-in-law, the late Nolan Cobb.

In her twenties Darlene met her future husband, the late Harley P. Macon, on a blind date at a dance social and it was love at first sight.  They were married less than a year later at Sacred Heart Church on September 27, 1958 and began their happy 60-year life together in Pensacola.  They raised a daughter Natalie D. Macon, Ph.D. of Basking Ridge, NJ, and a son, Preston D. Macon of Ridgewood, NJ.  Darlene took great joy in her love of music and dancing with Harley, and together Darlene and Harley made great memories traveling throughout the United States, Canada, Jamaica, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Darlene earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at the Sacred Heart School of Nursing in New Orleans, Louisiana.  She began her career working for the same obstetrician who delivered her at home in Cantonment, became an emergency room and operating room nurse, and later held senior nursing roles at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut and as nursing director at the Holland Christian Home in North Haledon, NJ.  After retiring from her profession Darlene was a Senior Friends volunteer for many years at the University of West Florida Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. 

Darlene and Harley moved up and down the East Coast, and last settled in Monroe, NJ.   Darlene was an avid reader, found pleasure in working jigsaw puzzles, took joy in tending flower and vegetable gardens, loved socializing with friends old and new, and was a devoted wife and mother.

In addition to her children Natalie and Preston, Darlene leaves her daughter-in-law Joanne and her grandchildren Alex and Gianna.

Visitation will be 2-4 pm & 7-9 pm on Monday December 19, 2022 at the M. David DeMarco Funeral Home Inc., 205 Rhode Hall Rd., Monroe Twp., NJ  08831 - 732-521-0555.  A service will be held at 8 pm during the visiting hours.  Funeral services will begin at 12:30 pm on Tuesday from the funeral home.  Committal will be 1:30 pm at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown. 

In lieu of flowers and for those who desire, please consider making a contribution in honor of Darlene to Grace Healthcare Services, a NJ hospice care organization. - https://www.gracehcs.com/donation-program/