Darlene Joyce Urbanovsky was born in Caldwell, to Louis Ludwig Fillip and Vlasta Marie (Dlabay) Fillip, the youngest of three girls, on November 1, 1949.
Darlenegrewuponafarm in the community of Chriesman outside of Caldwell and attended Caldwell Public Schools.
She graduated from Caldwell High School in 1968.
Darlene met the love of her life, Lamar, when she was a junior in high school, on a church hayride at Snook Brethren Church and then again at a dance at the SPJST dance hall in Bryan. Her sister knew Darlene had met the one when she came home talking about the funny guy she had met at the dance.
They were married at Caldwell Brethren Church on June 7, 1969.
Lamar and Darlene moved to the Austin area in 1973 and have lived in Round Rock since 1989.
They have one daughter Lynette Marie (Urbanovsky) Shimek and a son-in-law, Kevin James Shimek, of College Station. Darlene was honored to have three godchildren, RhondaLynn(Urbanovsky) Michalkowski, Donald Wayne Urbanovsky, and Jestin “Jess” John Junek. Darlene was very proud of all of them.
After graduating from high school, Darlene worked for the telephone company in Bryan. She became a homemaker once she moved to Austin.
Darlene always enjoyed having and keeping a very tidy and clean house, never leaving anything undone prior to going anywhere.
On weekends Darlene loved cleaning, cooking, baking and shopping with her mother and mother in-law.
Darlene also enjoyed gardening and having fresh vegetables and pretty flower beds.
She always enjoyed spending time with family and friends and put family first.
Darlene looked forward to talking with anyone on the phone, especially her sisters.
She enjoyed hosting many family and friends at holidays and gatherings and made sure to serve everyone else first. She always provided more than enough food for guests, giving them food to take home.
Darlene grew up attending the Dime Box Brethren Church and after marriage became a member at the Caldwell Brethren Church.
When not visiting their country place in Bryan on the weekends, they attended the Taylor Brethren Church.
Darlene was a member of the Caldwell Brethren Christian Sisters and a longtime member of the Round Rock NewNeighborsorganization.
Darlene enjoyed playing bunco with her friends, and loved going to dances.
Darlene was talented at decorating for holidays and enjoyed making floral arrangements for her nieces’ bridal showers that she helped host.
The family looked forward to Aunt Darlene’s desserts, notably her cream cheese and poppy seed rolls during holidays. Darlene was also an excellent kolache maker.
She was known for sending cards for birthdays and anniversaries and always kept cards and keepsakes given to her. Darlene was the official proofreader for her family and was known for having great writing and grammar.
She always wanted to be a beautician. She did her own hair for most of her life. In addition, she loved to fix, perm, color, cut and style hair for close family and friends.
Darlene passed away on October 22, 2025, after a complication from a coronary bypass surgery.
Darlene is survived by her daughter, Lynette and sonin- law, Kevin Shimek; her sisters and sister’s husband, Lelene and Thomas Kachtik, and Shirley Roznos; along with her brothers-in-law and their spouses, Joe D. and Judy Urbanovsky, and Ronald and Mary Ann Urbanovsky. Darlene is also survived by her nieces and nephews and their spouses; along with great and greatgreat- nieces and nephews, Melissa and Robert “Bobby” Barr,BlaneandBryce;Rhonda and Mike Michalkowski and Emma Lynn; Donald and Danielle Urbanovsky and Dusty, Dakota, Dalton, and Daegyn; Michael and Dawn Urbanovsky; Linda Urbanovsky; Brandy and Tim Kemp and Bennett; Tim and Susan Knesek and Jordan and Brenton Ayers, Devin and Madison Mercer, Hudson, Hadley and Henrietta; Ed and Deborah Kahil, Crystal and Jeremy Baldwin and Maddy; Kevin and Bekie Charanza,AaronandLaine Charanza, and Hannah Charanza; Charles and Glenda Marino, Joey and Amy Marino and Jonathan Marino and fiancée Sara Quintanilla; Randy and Nannette Ripple, Justin and Tiffany Ripple; Caney and Jennifer Carlton, Joey and Zach; Dameon and Misty Marks, Austin and Aidan.
Darlene is also survived by her godson, Jess Junek and wife, Cheryl Junek; along with several cousins and close friends.
Darlene was preceded in death by her husband, Lamar Urbanovsky; her parents, Louis L. and Vlasta M. (Dlabay) Fillip; and parents-in-law, Frank H. and Olga M. Urbanovsky; brother-in-law, Eugene Roznos; and brother and sister-in-law, Frank John and Sue Urbanovsky.
A visitation service was held at Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Snook Brethren Church in Snook.
Burial will follow at the Cooks Point Brethren Church Cemetery in Caldwell.
Darlene was a loving and sweet wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend and will be sorely missed.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Caldwell Brethren Church Building Fund, or Brethren Church of your choice. Floral is being handled through the Field and Flowers florist in Caldwell.
The family would like to thank all of the family and friends that visited, called and prayed for Darlene during her illness and all of the medical staff who took care of her before her passing.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Strickland Funeral Home. They invite you to visit their website at www.stricklandfuneralhomes. com and sign the online register book.