CATHERINE ROSIQUE DARNELL

Kitty Darnell passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Monday evening, October 16, 2006. Kitty was born on November 7, 1923 to the late Horace and Josie Rosique. The Rosique family is one of the original Spanish founding families of Pensacola, settling there in the early 1700's. At 17, she eloped with her lifelong love, Frank Darnell. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on August 3, 2006 with a beautiful reception by their sons. In 1943, Frank volunteered to serve in the United States Army, leaving Kitty to raise two infant sons. Frank Jr. was 14 months old and Jimmy was just 2 months old. She raised her two boys with courage and audacity, until Frank returned home at the end of the war where he had served in the South Pacific and New Guinea and was involved in the invasion of the Philippines. They stayed in Pensacola where Frank worked for Muldon Motor Company. Two more sons were born to them – Doug in 1949 and Tom in 1952. In 1955, while dressing for a dinner party, Kitty found a suspicious lump in her breast. Not the least bit suspicious because breast cancer was the "unspoken" cancer of the time, she was not even aware at the time, what a long journey she would have to travel to recovery. However, she approached this like everything else in her life – with a smile on her face and sheer determination; she conquered a two-year battle with this ravaging disease. After all, she had four sons to raise! Over the years, she and the boys followed Frank in the car business from Pensacola to Ft. Walton to Daytona Beach. In 1972, they settled in Panama City when Frank became general manager of Cook Whitehead Ford. Always active in Garden Club, the Women's Club and the Lions Auxiliary, Kitty was a valuable asset with her quick wit and smiling face. She was a Girl Scout leader, Women's Club sponsor of the Jr. Women's Club, President of the Dogwood Circle of the Garden Club, a Bay Medical Center Auxiliary volunteer, and an Azalea Trail chairperson. She and Frank were well known in Panama City for their beautiful roses and flowers and made gorgeous flower arrangements which she loved to share. All those touched by her loving spirit were blessed. When doctors discovered that the cobalt radiation received in 1955 to fight the breast cancer had done permanent damage to her heart and lungs she continued to remain optimistic about her illness. When diagnosed with breast cancer once again, she fought it with a cheerful grin and continued on – at a slower pace – to take care of her family and friends, never giving in to the pain. Those who knew her never heard her complain about her misfortunes. She was a true champion. Kitty has left behind a large and loving family. Besides her husband Frank, she is survived by her four sons: Frank (Margaret) of Pensacola, Jimmy (Tammy) and Doug (Laura) of Panama City, and Tom of Dothan. She has eight grandchildren: Troy, Paul and Stacie Darnell, Jamie Bengston, Amy Hurst Darnell and Matt (now serving in Iraq) and Joey Darnell, and Adrienne Darnell. Her great grandchildren are Brittany Darnell, Kiani and Dakota Darnell, Alexandria, Aubrey and Abigail Seay, Matthew Darnell and Morgan Catherine Hurst. She is survived by her sister Connie Mattair (Lloyd) and Lorraine Melvin and Dean and Rena Horne of Pensacola and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Horace Rosique, and her grandson, Ryan Darnell. Visitation will be Friday, October 20, 2006 at Wilson Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00. A funeral mass will be Saturday, October 21, 2006, at 11:00, with Rev. Jacek Junak, CR at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Interment will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Kitty loved flowers but a donation to The FAN Club – a women's support group for cancer survivors- can be sent to The FAN Club, 2355 Foxworth Drive, Panama City, Florida 32405

Wilson Funeral Home