Mary Darling

Mary Elizabeth Darling died peacefully at N.C. Little Memorial Hospice on Friday, September 9, 2022, in Edina, MN at the age of 83.

Mary is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Ruth Darling and Mike Capps (Knoxville, TN); brother and sister-in-law, Bill Darling and Chris Ozbun (Wynnewood, PA); sister-in-law, Marylynn Darling (Tolland, CT); nephews, John Darling (Chapel Hill, NC), Jeffrey Darling and wife Micki (Northampton, MA), Jonathan Capps and wife Lindsay (Columbus, OH); and her niece, Sammy Darling (Smith College).

Mary is preceded in death by her mother, Elizabeth Darling; her father, Alan Darling; her stepmother, Anna Darling; her siblings, Charles Darling, and Margaret Darling.

As the oldest sibling in a minister's family, Mary spent her early childhood in Argyle and Oswego, IL, and later childhood in Davis, OK. In 1957, the Darling family moved to Erie, PA where Mary graduated from Strong Vincent High School. Mary earned her BS degree in Home Economics from Maryville College (Maryville, TN). Her graduate studies in Food Science and Nutrition culminated in an MA and PhD from the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities.

In 1970, Mary began her 31 year career as an Extension Nutritionist and Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota-St. Paul campus. She traveled across the state teaching better health through nutrition, focusing on the nutritional needs and education of low-income families and families of disadvantaged minority groups. Mary regularly served as a judge at the Minnesota State Fair for a variety of 4-H competitions. Her university career included research that focused on the nutritional needs of aging women, teaching, and mentoring, and collaborating with longtime colleagues and friends. Mary retired in 2001.

Mary loved living in St. Paul. Her retirement years were spent volunteering, enjoying her family visits, watching her nephews and niece grow up, caring for her beloved cockatiel pet birds, knitting, drawing, coloring, getting together with friends, and watching the natural beauty of the Minnesota seasons come and go. Mary was a loving sister and aunt. Her kind, gentle soul will be missed.

The Darling family is deeply grateful to the staff of Pathfinder Case Management, Joyful Companions, and N. C. Little Memorial Hospice for their loving care and presence as we navigated the challenges of the Covid pandemic.

A family celebration of life will be held at Burton Funeral Home, 525 Main Street East, Girard on Saturday June 24, 2023 at 2:00pm with burial at Girard Cemetery to follow.

Memorials may be made to the following: American Cancer Society, N. C. Little Memorial Hospice, and the National Audubon Society. 

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