Obituary of Darlene Joyce Reese Pelton

Darlene Joyce Reese Pelton Darlene Joyce (Reese) Pelton, age 84, originally of Erie, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, February 8, 2025, in Mentor Ohio. Originally from Erie, she was born on June 22, 1940, the daughter of the late Arnold C. and Doris M. Bauchard-DiFilippo Reese. Darlene graduated from Academy High School in 1958 and went on to study cosmetology. During her life, she was a homemaker, raising 3 boys and a step-daughter, but also worked in cosmetology, retail, and as an aide in a nursing home at various times. Darlene had a deep faith as a Christian and the teaching of the Lord. She was very involved with First Alliance Church in Millcreek with her sister Janice. When her children were young, she was also involved in Boys Baseball, Bay City Football, Erie Youth Hockey, and Cub Scouts. In her later years, she and her husband were involved and traveled with the Zem Zem Shrine. She enjoyed doing crafts and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Darlene had a remarkable sense of imagination and creativity. She was a huge fan of music; especially Lionel Richie. While she loved her “little house”, she is one of the less than 1% of non-serving Americans ever to sail on a U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier and watch flight operations, which she did in 1981 with her husband and son Daniel, while her son Joe was a crew member. She loved watching the United States Navy Blue Angels and saw several shows over the years, even getting to meet the flight teams a couple of times. She enjoyed watching old movies on TMC. She also enjoyed watching religious programs and was an active supporter of veteran’s organizations. Darlene was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years Dean P. Pelton and her son Alan D. Pelton. She is survived by her sons; Joseph P. Keane (Jo Lynn), Daniel A. (Donna), her step- daughter Cheryl Mullins (David), two granddaughters; Ally and Rachel (Brandon), two grandson; Tyler (Amber) and Ryan (Morgan), step-granddaughter, Summer and step-grandson, Shane, great - grandsons; Jackson, Atlas, and Talon, her sisters: Janice Taccone and Susan Daugherty both of Erie, Cheryl Gorton of Ripley, one brother, Charles Walmsley of Erie, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. The family wishes to thank the staff at Governors Pointe, Mentor, Ohio and Hospice of the Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio for their loving care, support and concern, not for only Darlene but also for our entire family as we are experiencing this great loss. Friends may call at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd, Erie, PA on Thursday, February 13, 2025, from 3 pm until the time of the service there at 6 pm. A private family burial will take place the following day at Laurel Hill Cemetery. PLEASE - In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be sent to: Shriners Hospital for Children, 1645 West 8th St., Erie, PA 16505, Greater Cleveland Fisher House, PO Box 1852, Cleveland, OH 44106, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.