Darlene Zeglen

March 19, 1950 - July 25, 2016

Darlene Zeglen March 19, 1950 - July 25, 2016 On July 25th, 2016, we lost an awesome lady, my aunt, Darlene Zeglen. For those of you who knew and loved her you know she was her own person, always adding a twist to everything she did. Being who she was it just didn't feel right to write her an obituary, which just wasn't her style; way too traditional - we need a twist - a way to honor who she was. Darlene was wife to Edward Zeglen Jr for 47 years. Mother to Ed Zeglen III and Amber Zeglen. Sister to Barbara, Kitty, and Annette. Aunt, Great Aunt many times over, and Grandma to Auggie Doggie. Despite any ups and downs Mom & Dad had, as anyone in a marriage that long is expected to, they fought the battle together. They were best friends, good parents, and loyal to the end. Dad was there holding her hand the whole time. And her son Eddie was her closest partner in crime, always crafting, or trying new recipes, or gallivanting around town. Our hope is that we can all share some memories of our relationship with her, stories of who she was, experiences we had with her. Memories that will keep her in our hearts forever. We hope she is resting at peace, wearing a tye dye, savoring pizza, and surrounded by beautiful mushrooms. We invite you to share your memories of this unique, special lady, Darlene Angela Costa Zeglen who left this place way, way, way, too soon. From her daughter, Amber (These “tid bits” from Amber are what inspired the idea to share our memories of Darlene) Mom loved Camo. She had camo hats, pants, shirts, curtains, blankets. Mom called conditioner cream rinse... Deli meats cold cuts... and called the end of the pepperoni stick the “teduchi” Mom taught me how to drive. (She used to be a driving instructor years ago.). Mom went to every basketball game with the huge VCR type camera on her shoulder; she begrudgingly supported me. Mom would always have a stocked fridge full of delicious treats: potato salad, mac salad, chicken cutlets, artichokes, etc.… and some of the highest executives at paramount pictures have eaten my mother’s potato salad. When Mom would really laugh, she would fart... and when then that would make her laugh more, and then fart more... and repeat. Mom would often scream "Ed!!! - shut up, nobody cares" - whenever he would go on and on and on and on about Vietnam, cars, or his projects. When Mom pulled me out of the closet at the unripe age of 17, she said "I'd rather you be a murderer or a drug addict or a prostitute than this; you should all go live on an island and die"… then, after many, many years, she grew to accept me and my partners; welcoming them to our family and even being friends with them. She shifted her whole perspective to the positive (for once!) so she could be in my life. She eventually even started to ask about my love life, and was happy when I was dating someone, she didn't want me to be alone. Kudos Darlene. Mom’s random stock of trivia was baffling – she was a champion at Jeopardy. Mom still sent me care packages every few months (I’m 37!). Mom and I went to an awesome restaurant in LA when she was here and we had the best time. Just me and her. It was fancy and she was game for all of it. Mom was always building a scrapbook for someone. The most important thing Mom ever taught me, and I pass on often: Use Oil of Olay on your face every day. She told me this when I was 12 years old and also to never to buy the knock off...I have heeded her advice, and I must say - my skin does not look like one of a 37 year old and I get told that a lot...thank you mom! Mom was a proud atheist. I think she would appreciate this quote: "I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it" - Mark Twain From her niece, Cathie Robbins (I have so many great memories of my Aunt Dar, I'm not sure where to begin....here are a few) She was my mother's youngest sister, we would sometimes joke that we were really sisters, she being my mother’s illegitimate child raised by my grandparents. We always seemed to have a lot in common. We had many late night conversations that seemed to go on for hours! We could talk!! I am so going to miss talking with her. She always had a different perspective to share or debate! She was one of my closest friends. We would fight, just like sisters! I hated when we weren't talking, it always made me sad. Luckily, we always found a way to get past our differences. She and Ed loved to drive in the woods, they loved nature and exploring. She loved mushroom everything! Every time I saw something fun with mushrooms I got it for her, so many Christmas Ornaments!! She wanted a mushroom tattoo, we looked in Woodstock, and she almost got one but couldn't decide on exactly the right one. For her 50th birthday we got her a mushroom shaped cake – she loved it! She helped me make my wedding invitations. We had so much fun! We always laughed together. I loved her pumpkin cheese cake. She made so many great scrap books. I would supply the books and she would make them. I look at the one she made for my mother’s 80th birthday often, it is filled with so many great memories of all of us together. She was amazing with my daughter, Ariana. She always knew the perfect game or toy. She gave her her first fairy tutu and wand, it took Ariana's breath away when she took them out of the bag, it was a magical moment. She always sent her the best care packages, always with crazy socks and tye dye stuff – she made her tye dye pillow cases! She truly was a “great” Great Aunt! Ariana loved her artichokes and beets, every time we visited she would have them and they were always delicious!! We had a blast riding the Ferris wheel at the Rhinebeck Fair with Ariana and Juliana, we watched the sun set and the fair light up. I really will miss this special lady, my Aunt Dar, my friend.