Darlene Joan Oliver
Darlene Joan Oliver, 92, passed peacefully on July 22, 2024. Born in Fairmont Minnesota, Darlene was the second youngest of 6 children for Eskel and Mabel Hiller. After graduating high school in 1950, she traveled to Miami, FL visiting an older sister, and decided to stay. There, Darlene met her future husband William (Bill) and married on July 31, 1955. They lived in Miami raising four boys: William Jr., Brian, James, and George; moved to Chelmsford, MA in 1978 before returning to Palm Harbor, FL in 1987.
Darlene returned to the workforce in the early 70’s, employed by Mt. Sinai Hospital on Miami Beach in the billing office of Dr. Philip Samet in the department of Cardiology. After moving to Massachusetts, she was hired by Dr. Joel Epstein as office manager to set up and establish his rheumatology practice in Lowell. In 1987, her son Brian asked her to move back to Florida to help him as office manager establish his orthopedic practice OrthoSports, in Clearwater. Darlene retired from Brian’s office in 1997. Throughout this time they enjoyed vacationing with family and traveling the country, initially by station wagon in the 60’s and later by RV. After retiring, Darlene and Bill became `part timers’, spending nearly 6 months of the year traveling in their RV as members of the Florida Motor Coach Association’s: `Roaming Rigs’.
Bill passed in Dec 2013 after 58 years of marriage; her son Brian passed in Dec 2016. Darlene is survived by son, William Oliver Jr and wife Tracey of Fairfield, VA; son Jim Oliver and husband Don Wunder of Ogunquit, ME; son, George Oliver and wife Lauren of Leesburg, VA; six grandchildren, Brian Jr. and wife Missy (GA), Blake, and Brooke of Florida; Hailey and husband Luke (AL), Ryan (NC), and Teagan (VA), 3 great grandsons: Brian III, Benjamin, and Barrett (GA) as well as 14 nieces and nephews, their children, and many other friends.
Darlene had that Hiller sense of humor and brightened everyone’s day with quick wit, a penetrating smile, and that tilt of the head. She will be deeply missed by many. Arrangements for Darlene have been entrusted to the care of Coffman Funeral Home in Staunton, VA (www.coffmanfuneralhome.net). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in support of the National Institute of Aging and Alzheimer’s research (www.alz.org).
