Darlene Vanderhorst Cronin

Darlene Vanderhorst Cronin

Darlene Vanderhorst Cronin was born on May 4, 1957 at Albrook United States Air Force Station, Panama Canal Zone, Panama. She was the fifth child of the six children born to S/Sgt. Herman and Ada Ross Vanderhorst. Darlene passed away on Friday, April 25, 2019 at 6:50PM at MUSC hospital in Charleston, SC. She was 61 years old. She was surrounded by loving members of her family and friends.

When her father retired from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years of service, the family returned to her parents’ hometown of Summerville, SC. After graduating from Summerville High School in 1975, Darlene attended Claflin University the Historical Black College in Orangeburg, SC. She majored in Art where she perfected her natural artistic talent. After college she worked for Annabel’s Restaurant as a Server; the Summerville Police Department and the Charleston Police Department as a Dispatcher; and the Woodlands Inn, in Summerville, as a Concierge.

Darlene had two children; Gabrielle VanCopeland a graduate from The Art Institute of Arts in 2012; and Patrick Morris who owns a hauling business.

James “Jimmy” Cronin met Darlene in 1992. After spending five years together they married on February 15, 1997. Captain James Cronin retired from the Summerville Fire Department in 2014. They were the loves of each other’s life.

Darlene was gifted in art. However, those who knew her well will especially remember her cooking skills. There wasn’t anything she couldn’t cook or bake. Her personal doctor and others couldn’t wait for the holidays to come around when Darlene would bake pecan pies and fruitcakes. We won’t forget her red rice, Frogmore Stew, BBQ, and all the other wonderful foods she made.

Darlene will always be remembered and missed by those who loved her: James her husband; Gabrielle and Patrick her children, P.J. and Uriel, her grandsons; siblings Anne Batiste (Ronald), Hermena Balik (Larry), Harriette Vanderhorst, Robert Vanderhorst (Marlene) and Renee Robinson (Rodney); Noelle Batiste, Erika Vanderhorst and Alex Robinson, her nieces and nephew and their families; her sisters-in-law Mary Alice Ramsey (Robert), Kathy Morris and Anne Tyler; nieces and nephew Jason Smith, Jennifer Moore and Lisa Mynardie; cousins especially close to her Jade Perkins, Chakeyda Mack, Dexcter Mack, and Roberta Shields; a host of cousins, former co-workers, friends, and all who knew, loved and cared for her.

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