Darlene Petrucelli, 65, of Palm Harbor, Florida, passed away on December 30th, 2022 surrounded by her loving sons.

Darlene was born Sept. 9, 1957, in Camden, NJ, the daughter of James and Majorie Cox. She is survived by her sons Joseph, Robert, and William Petrucelli; grandson Dylan; as well as siblings James Cox, Margie Kennedy, and Linda Meeser. Her loving husband, Joe Petrucelli, preceded her in 2014.

Darlene was fiercely independent, adventurous, and passionate about her personal goals, career, and family. After graduating high school, she joined the government workforce which led to the beginning of her accomplished consulting career in Washington, D.C. Coworkers described her as a “cornerstone,” a “captain of industry,” and “always such a source of knowledge, support, humor, insight, and compassion.”

Darlene lived by the motto, “Say what you mean and do what you say.” Her words and commitments never failed and she had no patience for any nonsense that came her way. Darlene held strong values and did not waver in the face of adversity. As such, she demonstrated unflinching resolve in the face of cancer, and continued to prioritize the needs of her loved ones over her own. Darlene’s last days were filled with grace, humor, and courage until the very end.

Darlene lived a full life and loved spending time on personal projects and making memories with her family and close circle of friends and neighbors. The beach was her happy place and she often collected shells and driftwood, which she would then repurpose as home decor and gifts for her family. Rarely in one place for long, Darlene traveled extensively across the United States and beyond on frequent work trips, independent adventures, and family vacations up and down the east coast. In later life, she enjoyed reading and relaxing on Florida beaches, catching a Phillies game during Spring Training, and exploring the North Carolina mountains and rivers. Darlene found particular joy in her recent travels to her ancestral homes of Ireland and Newfoundland. At home, Darlene split her time between working in the garden, reading, numerous DIY projects, and relaxing on the porch. She was always looking for her next project and confidently learned new skills to complete them. Some of her favorites included woodworking, landscaping, painting, and furniture restoration.

Darlene was also a devoted fan of her lifelong favorite artists John Mellencamp and Talking Heads, often traveling many miles to catch their shows from the front rows. In her mind, the only way to enjoy a show was dancing and singing along to every song she knew; staying seated and nodding along would never be enough for Dar.

Darlene’s sincere wish was that all of her loved ones would live on with the same resolve she shared with us in life. Now more than ever, we can listen to the advice she gave us in times of hardship: “Stay Strong.”

Visitation will be held on January 12th at Dobie’s Funeral Home in Tarpon Springs, FL from 11am – 1pm. Services will follow immediately afterwards at St. Ignatius of Antioch Roman Catholic Church at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to an organization of your choosing.