Darlene A. Melland, 70, died Jan. 14, 2009, at Promise Regional Medical Center, Hutchinson. She was born Jan. 20, 1938, in Munjor, Kan., the daughter of Aegidius and Clara Gross Pfannenstiel. She was a lifetime resident of Hutchinson. She was a 1956 graduate of St. Teresa's High School. She was a member of the Church of the Holy Cross.

On March 15, 1957, she married John R. Melland in Kansas City Mo. He survives. Other survivors include: sons, Richard, Anamosa, Iowa, Mike, Hutchinson, Patrick, Paul, and Tom, all of Kansas City, Mo.; daughters, Mary Leimbach, Cheverly, Md., Angella Schrock, Hutchinson, Kathleen Courington, Kansas City, Mo., and Jeanne Davison, Lakewood, Colo.; sisters, Freda Young, Dolores Crathorne, Mary Grace Westgate, Juanita Ketchum, all of Hutchinson, and Velma Sietz, Darien Conn.; and 17 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Rosary will be 7 p.m. Sunday at the Church of the Holy Cross. Mass 10 a.m. Monday at the church, with Father Joseph Eckberg presiding. Friends may sign the guest book from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Elliott Mortuary. The casket will remain closed. Burial will be in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the St. Teresa's School or T.E.C.H. both in care of the funeral home. Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave the family personal condolences.