CHASTON, Darlene
March 14, 1956 – November 13, 2017

We are devastated to announce this loss. Darlene passed in the quiet, early hours of the morning at Bob Kemp Hospice, in a way only she would – waiting until she was alone, so as to prevent any of us from seeing her suffer further. She always did march to the beat of her own drum. In the end Darlene was peaceful and comfortable. Morning always was her favourite time of day.
Darlene had endless devotion to her children, Corrine and Mack, and loved us fiercely. She was the immensely proud Nanna of Ethan (Corrine & Kevin Landreville) and Mila (Mack Cline & Kim Page), and the little and best sister to Linda. She was Auntie Darlene to Linda’s children David, Katie and Mikala; and great-auntie of the boys: Ben and Aiden (David & Leigh Pierias), Masin (Katie and Jasin Knights) and Knox (Mikala and Kristian Oberg). She was a rock and a bright light for her partner Steve Patterson. Darlene is predeceased by her mother Helen Chaston, and father Orton (Ort).

Darlene was born and raised in Hamilton, but the wind blew her West to Saskatchewan, then back to Southern Ontario and as far North as Yellowknife, Northwest Territory before eventually settling her in the quaint community of Cayuga. She was a passionate and uncompromising caregiver as an oncology RN at the Juravinski Hospital. She made many friends there who will remember her electric smile, room-filling laughter, and boundless enthusiasm and energy. Darlene loved the outdoors, her garden, her home and her family.

Darlene succumbed to ALS only 13 months after her official diagnosis. She remained dignified, gracious, and strong to the end. She was a hero to us all. We are in eternal debt to the care provided to her by her home and palliative care teams; Dr’s Tanya Ligori and Anne Boyle and the nursing team at St. Joseph’s ICU, and forever grateful to Dr. Sharon Russell and the nurses at the Bob Kemp Hospice. You made an impossible time bearable.

Family and friends are warmly welcomed to attend a service and reception celebrating the life of Darlene at the BAY GARDENS FUNERAL HOME (947 Rymal Road East, Hamilton) on Saturday, November 18th. Service will start at 1PM. At Darlene’s request, please show your kindness through donations to ALS Society Canada, or Bob Kemp Hospice in lieu of flowers. Online condolences may be made at www.baygardens.ca