Darlene Bennett - 5/2/26

We gather today to say our final goodbyes to Darlene Bennett. As we stand in a cemetery, life can feel hopeless and pointless. But today, I want to remind you that because of Jesus, there is hope, there is purpose, and there is joy to our lives. There is even hope in death.

Jesus spoke to His disciples and said these words,

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? (John 14:1-2, NLT)

He was reminding His disciples that death is not the end of the story. This passage reminds us that He has made it possible for us to live even though we die. And that reality tempers our grief today.

We still feel the sting of loss, but that pain is tempered by the reality of life beyond the grave for those who trust in Jesus. That is the hope to which we cling today. Because of that, we do not want to fixate only on Darlene’s death, but also on her life. We want to celebrate what we were given, even as we mourn what we have lost.

So will you pray with me?

Our Heavenly Father, the weight of grief is heavy today. Standing in a cemetery, we are reminded that death is a painful but very real part of life. Today, Lord, we pray for your comfort. Grant these gathered today comfort as they remember the blessing that Darlene’s life was, but also grant them comfort in the hope and promise of the resurrection and eternal life. Help us, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Darlene M. Bennett was born November 17, 1937 on the farm northeast of Macomb, Illinois, the daughter of Paul and Mignon (Elie) Thomson. On September 6, 1958 she married E. Dean Bennett at the Church of the Brethren in Canton, Illinois. He preceded her in death on March 26, 2024.

Darlene’s 1st and 2nd grade education began in a one room school near Cuba, Illinois. She later attended Smithfield Jr. High. She graduated from Cuba, Illinois High School in 1955 and Graham Hospital School of Nursing in Canton, Illinois in 1958. She worked for three years at the LaHarpe Hospital and ten years at the Memorial Hospital in Carthage, Illinois before staying home to raise her family. Later, she helped for a short time with Share and Care Preschool in LaHarpe. She enjoyed living on the farm outside of LaHarpe, prior to moving to town in 1987.

Mrs. Bennett was a member of the LaHarpe Christian Church and a long-time member of the LaHarpe Historical Society, where she helped with research, served as Secretary and Treasurer and was still active in writing their newsletters.

Darlene passed away on Wednesday April 29th, 2026 at Oak Lane Nursing and Rehab in Stronghurst at the age of 88.

She is survived by two children: Mike (Hilary) Bennett of LaHarpe and Denise (Eric) Thompson of LaHarpe; three grandchildren: Kayla (Jamie) Taylor, Bart (Lacie) Thompson and Cole (Jenni) Thompson; six great-grandchildren: Charlotte, Penelope, Broderick and Nolan Thompson and Abigail and Harper Taylor and one brother: Leroy (Vicki) Thomson.

Besides her husband of 65 years, Dean, she was preceded in death by four brothers: David, Donald, Robert and Gale Thomson and her parents.

Darlene Bennett was full of life. She greatly enjoyed living on the farm in her younger years, and loved to stay active, even in her later years.

There are lots of stories from the years on the farm. Darlene and Dean raised hogs for many years. As somewhat of a tribute to that, Darlene maintained a collection of all sorts of pig-themed items. She had all manner of figurines and other knick-knacks with pigs on them. I’m told that at one time she may have had the largest collection of pigs in Illinois!

Not every interaction she had with pigs was positive, however. Darlene wasn’t a big woman, but wasn’t afraid to get in with the hogs. Apparently, however, one time one tried to sneak under her legs. When the hog stood up, Darlene’s legs were no longer on the ground, and the next thing everyone knew, she was riding the pig backwards into the barn! I don’t believe the way she got off the pig was particularly graceful, and though everyone thought the result was funny, Darlene kept her distance from the pigs for a while.

Apparently, she was also not a fan of snakes. I’m told that one day while they were working in the yard, she came across a snake, and the kids said they can’t remember anyone wielding a hoe so quickly and violently! Needless to say, the snake was no longer a threat a few seconds after being discovered.

But as much as Darlene loved being on the farm, she loved her family even more. When the grandkids and great-grandkids entered the picture, she was always excited to have a chance to make them feel special. She loved getting each one a personalized Christmas ornament. She was always excited to pick out something special for them.

She was also a talented seamstress. She made clothes for Denise and Kayla both over the years, and had sewn all of Denise’s dresses (including prom dresses) growing up. And she was a perfectionist about them. If she saw something wasn’t quite right, she would keep working at it until it was.

One of the sewing projects she continued making throughout the years, however, were her heater bags. It didn’t matter where you were in her house, there was going to be a bag full of rice nearby that you could heat up and use to soothe your muscles. Even in Stronghurst, Darlene was sure to have a heater bag nearby. Denise has carried on that tradition, as she has many of those bags herself.

The grandkids all remember Grandma’s cooking as well. I’m told one of her most memorable meals was her goulash and mashed potatoes. Denise said there were many times when she tried to follow her mom’s recipe, only to be informed that “Grandma’s is better.”

Darlene loved having real potatoes at almost every meal. Often they were mashed potatoes, but she enjoyed them prepared in almost any fashion. Even once she got to the nursing home, the staff knew potatoes was always something she would eat. During the summer, you could usually find her eating cucumbers as well. It was her “go-to” snack.

She also enjoyed music. She played the piano and sang. For many years, it was not uncommon for her to be singing or humming “Strangers in the Night”, often while in the kitchen preparing a meal.

In her later years, Darlene really enjoyed digging into her family genealogy. She had traced the Thomson family all the way back to Ireland. She believed they were originally from Scotland and was trying to connect her family tree back that far as well. She was able to map hundreds of years of the Thomson family tree. This led her to really enjoy her time at the La Harpe Historical Society as well. She loved getting to spend time with the group there, and had a lot of fun writing the monthly newsletter. It was never a burden to her, but a joy.

This historical research led her to embrace the computer, even though it was somewhat foreign to her at her age. She could usually do what she wanted, but often got confused. Invariably, she’d end up asking one of the kids or grandkids to help her with her “puter.”

Darlene was also a woman of great faith. She was devoted to her church and believed in Jesus as her savior. She was confident of where her faith lay and did not face death with fear.

That reality is important and comforting to those of us who are left behind. Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection serve as the anchor for our souls, especially in times when the storms of life seem like more than we can handle.

A cemetery is a place where we are reminded of the importance of faith. Many believe that what we choose to believe about life and death, and about the claims of Jesus and the Bible are personal preferences that don’t ultimately matter much. But as we look around, we are reminded that each of us will one day taste death for ourselves, and we must therefore decide where we stand on these issues.

Here’s what Jesus told his disciples,

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, NLT)

Many today want to imagine that everyone goes to heaven when they die. That’s not what the Bible teaches, however. Jesus said there is one way to eternal life, and that is through Him. He is the only One who has given a sacrifice that allows us to be forgiven and live with Him for all eternity.

Ultimately, the question is a simple one—is what Jesus said in the Bible true, or is it not? If Jesus really did live, die, and rise again, then His words carry a weight greater than any person who has ever lived. And He promises that everyone who trusts in and follows Him will have eternal life in Heaven. That is an incredibly hopeful message.

But if what He said is not true, then life is hopeless. You live, you die, and that’s it. There’s no meaning and no purpose.

The question isn’t what do we want to be true, it’s what is true? As we stand here today, we realize the answer to that question has immense practical importance. My hope is that you will examine the claims of Jesus, because I believe them to be true. My hope is that, like Darlene, you will come to recognize that on our own, none of us deserves or can earn eternal life and a home in Heaven, but that through faith in Jesus, we can be assured life even beyond the grave.

It’s because of Jesus that we can celebrate the life that Darlene Bennett lived today, and it’s because of Jesus that we can have a measure of joy, even as we come face to face with death. Jesus’ promise is that there is life that continues even beyond the grave. So today we do not mourn without hope, but with confidence, and even excitement that today Darlene has lost nothing and gained everything. I hope you will be able to approach your life, and even your death with the same perspective.

And now, I suppose there’s nothing else really left to say, except “And that’s the tale of that!”

Will you pray with me?

Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for the hope and promise of life beyond the grave. Thank you for sending Jesus into the world to die for our sin. Thank you for making it possible for us to live even though we die. Today, Lord, we pray that you would help this family to find comfort in that truth. Remind them of the many blessings of Darlene’s life, and surround them with your strength and comfort as they move forward. Help them, we pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen.