Darlene F. Bruley, 87, of Fairbury, died at 5:35 am, Saturday, March 1, 2014 at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.

Cremation rites have been accorded with a memorial service to be held at 4 pm, Thursday, March 6, 2014 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Colfax with Pastor Connie Frase officiating. Inurnment will be next to her husband in Shumway, IL at a later date. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorials be directed to the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Colfax or your local hospice organization.

Mrs. Bruley was born June 6, 1926 in Lawndale Twp., IL; the second daughter of Henry and Minnie (Dringenberg) Petersen. She married Bennie R. Bruley in October of 1944.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and three brothers, Larry Eugene Petersen, Loren Dean Petersen and Gene Allen Petersen.

Survivors include two sons, Terry (Carol) Bruley of Eureka; and Roger (Judy) Bruley of Ashburn, VA; one sister, Viola (Frank) Paulus of Chicago; one brother, Wayne (Betty) Petersen of Fairbury; four grandchildren, two great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and their families.

In her youth, Darlene worked on the family farm helping her family survive the "Great Depression". After marrying Bennie she was a housewife for several years.

When her children entered grade school she went to work at Fairbury Hospital as a Nurse's Aide. She went on to further her education. Darlene became a LPN and later receiving her registered nurse degree becoming the oldest nursing graduate from Parkland College, Champaign thus fulfilling a lifelong dream. She spent her later years in Effingham, IL; Ashburn, VA; and Chicago before becoming a resident of Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.