Marianne Darnell, 74, of Morgantown, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 21, 2018, at her home, in Cheat Lake, following an extended battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
She was born Nov. 10, 1943, in Northern Germany to the late Waldermar and Ursula Winkler.
Marianne had two younger brothers, Jurgen who preceded her in death, and Joachim, who resides in Dinslaken, Germany.
She attended nursing school in Wiesbaden, Germany, where she met Barry Darnell, her husband of 51 years. She absolutely loved going to opera concerts, sewing clothes for her family and friends and spending hundreds of hours doing needle point. She was also an avid reader of many books.
Marianne was the proud mother of two wonderful children, Barry Darnell Jr. and Michelle Dunn, both of whom have been in the Lord’s work for many years. She also had the privilege of being a grandmother to Noah Darnell who is preparing for ministry as a junior at Cedarville University, Ohio, and Leah Darnell who will be attending the University of North Carolina Wilmington this fall in preparation to serve in the field of special education.
Marianne, herself, was in church ministry for 45 years with her husband. They served in West Virginia, in North Carolina, as missionaries in Germany and at Grace Baptist Church in Bruceton Mills. She was always willing to do all she could to help in these ministries. More often than not, she was willing to seek out gainful employment in order to supplement their income while starting churches. Her last eight years were very challenging, but according to God’s word, she is now with the Lord.
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. — 2 Corinthians 5:8
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Marianne’s care provider, Patrice Bullister as well as the Amedisys Hospice workers as they have all labored diligently to make the last 18 months of Marianne’s earthly life as comfortable as possible. Their ministry to her has been exceptional.
Friends and family will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce St., Morgantown, from 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, until the 6 p.m. funeral service with Pastor Barry Darnell Jr. officiating. A private burial will be held at Fairview Cemetery, in Pisgah.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Marianne’s memory to Amedisys Hospice, 3596 Collins Ferry Road, Suite 250, Morgantown, WV 26505.
Condolences: hastingsfuneralhome.com
