Obituary of Darlene F. Krenz

WESTPORT, CONN

Darlene Francis Krenz of Westport died May 20 at the Fairfield County Hospice House in Stamford after a short battle with cancer. She was 85. 

She was married to the late Donald Albert Krenz for 41 years. Prior to moving to Westport in 1974, the couple lived in Sleepy Hollow, New York and Manhattan. 

She was born in Upsala, Minnesota to Robert and Agnes Ostreich Hedin. Upon moving to New York City, she began working for American Airlines and was a member of their management team for many years. 

She was an advocate for the arts. Prior to her death, she spent 14 years as a trustee of the Westport Country Playhouse. She served on the committee of the annual playhouse gala since March 2009, being passionately invested in the auction portion of the event.

Along with her husband, she was a travel enthusiast and never turned down an adventure. Over the last several years she traveled to Turkey, France, Australia, Costa Rica, Israel, China and Ireland accompanied by her family and friends. She planned on taking a safari trip through Africa. 

Survivors are two daughters, Carolyn E. Balbo and her husband, Antone, of Short Hills, New Jersey, and Jeanne M. East of Westport; five grandchildren, Christopher Balbo and Megan Balbo of Short Hills, Emma East, Jack East and Lulu East of Westport. She also had a daughter Sharon, who died in infancy. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and sister, Donna Clare Kampling. 

She will be remembered by family and friends for her sassy wit, gift for conversation and warm love for those around her. 

The family will receive visitors on Thursday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Harding Funeral Home (203-227-3458), 210 Post Road East, Westport. A graveside service will take place at approximately 12:30 p.m. at the Willowbrook Cemetery, 395 Main St., Westport.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.