A Life Set to Music | Darlene Donarski

A Life Set to Music

Darlene Donarski was six when she fell in love with the accordion after hearing her ten-year-old cousin play. Her parents bought her one, and she practiced until music came naturally. By 15, she was teaching; by 16, she was performing downtown; and by 17, she had joined the musicians’ union. Around that time, she also discovered the Hammond organ, saved her own money for lessons, and began building a life around music.

What began as a one-month request to play organ at church became 11 years at Darlene’s first parish and, ultimately, a 42-year career as a church musician. Along the way, she taught K-8 music, led adult and children’s choirs, prepared young singers for special performances, and even taught herself piano when the choir needed one.

Music has stayed with her in remarkable ways. She does not have perfect pitch, she said, but she has relative pitch. Once, when a friend from church asked her to play an unfamiliar song for his wife’s funeral, Darlene listened to it a few times and was able to play it.

“A gift God gave me,” she said. “I can hear it, I can play it.”

Darlene also built a beautiful life with her husband, whom she met at a Catholic church-sponsored dance in Chicago. They raised four children, and her family has grown to include ten grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, including two born this year. Darlene and her husband also shared a love of fishing, spending many summers in Michigan and even spending their honeymoon fishing.

Another hobby Darlene enjoys is painting. She still has oil and watercolor paintings hanging in her apartment, including an oil painting of the Grand Canyon. 

After her husband passed away, Darlene had help around the house for a while. But living alone started to take a toll. Her family noticed that even with practical support, she was missing the social connection that comes from being around people regularly.

Darlene’s children visited a few senior living communities and ultimately chose Park Place of Elmhurst.

She moved in about six months ago and has already found plenty to enjoy. When asked what she likes most about life at Park Place, Darlene talked about the activities and the people. She enjoys the grounds, the trees, and the opportunities to stay involved. She tries to take part in as much as she can, and when she has time, she goes downstairs to practice the piano.

“I like the fact that I keep busy,” she said.

At nearly 92, Darlene is sharp, reflective, and still full of stories. Looking back over nine decades, she offered a simple reminder: enjoy every day we have.

For Darlene, life has been filled with music, faith, family, creativity, and connection. At Park Place of Elmhurst, that same spirit continues.