Darla Jean Szcinski

Services for Darla Jean Szcinski will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Claremore. Father Paul Eichhoff will officiate. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 3, 2016 from 1-7 p.m. with a prayer service being held at 7:00 p.m.

Darla went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at the age of 50.

Darla Jean Szcinski was born in Benton Harbor Michigan on February 12, 1966. As a young girl Darla's family moved frequently as part of her dad's military service, living in places like California, South Carolina, even Panama, Central America. However as she entered high school, she and her family settled in St. Petersburg, Florida. There she attended Dixie Hollins High School, where Darla’s passion and talent for music and theater excelled. She greatly enjoyed her performances in many musicals, before graduating in 1984.

A few years after high school, Darla moved to Tampa, Florida where she met Jeffrey Szcinski. The two fell in love and were married on September 28th, 1991 in Tampa. The newlywed couple made their home in Palatine, Illinois. A few years later, after a move to Portage, Indiana the couple settled in Houston, Texas. There Darla continued growing and raising her family, but also continued her love of music and performance as part of her church’s talented choir. That group even traveled to the Rome, Italy where they got to sing for Pope John Paul II.

In the year 1999, Darla and her family made one final move settling in Claremore. Once again she became active in her community. Again for a period she was a member of her church’s choir. But she also volunteered at the Domestic Abuse Shelter, even toting along her family of 4 children for weekend work and service. She then took a job working as an assistant teacher in the music department at Claremore High School. This allowed her to share her love for music, musicals and theater with hundreds of students each and every year.

Darla’s illness forced her to leave her work, but she spent her final years watching her children advance through HS and college, and her eldest daughter begin a new family, including Darla’s first grandchild (Thomas) who became a sparkle in her eye.

Survivors include her husband, Jeffrey; sons Jeffrey Szcinski II and Christopher Szcinski, daughters Virginia “Missy” Arms (and husband Seth), and Sarah Szcinski; Mother Jeanne Beasley (and husband Bob), Father Helmuth “Bud” Radtke (and wife Mary); siblings Michael Holt (and wife Pam), Carrie Radtke-Rondo (and husband Josh), Travis Radtke, and Dustin Radtke; and one grandchild, Thomas Arms.