WATERTOWN – Aldona Evelyn Orantas Darsh, 89, died peacefully Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, surrounded by her family and the caring staff at Watertown Convalarium. She was the wife of the late Albert Victor Darsh.
Mrs. Darsh was born in Waterbury, daughter of the late Anthony and Anna Orantas on June 11, 1928. A first generation American, she grew up in the Lithuanian community in Waterbury and attended St. Joseph’s School. She was in the secretarial science program at Wilby High School, graduating with first honors in 1946. Her first job was at the White Supply Company as an executive secretary and later as head bookkeeper. Once her children were of school age, she held a variety of positions, including U.S. Census Bureau Surveyor, Avon Lady, and Manager of the Depot Square Mall in Watertown. In 1974, Donna and her husband, Al, founded the A.V. Darsh Company, a wholesaler of precision measuring tools and equipment. Al handled the sales and Donna did everything else, including billing, bookkeeping, and customer service.
Donna was a communicant of St. John’s the Evangelist Church of Watertown and a member of the Catholic Council of Women and the church choir. All five of her daughters attended the St. John’s School in Watertown. For many years, Donna was a member of the Nutmeg Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association, first joining in 1977 and taking on various leadership roles including Vice President in 1984-1985 and President from 1985-1986. Donna enjoyed reading, knitting, laughing, rooting for the UConn women’s basketball team, and cooking Sunday dinners for family and friends. Her family brought her great joy and she loved keeping up with all their activities and accomplishments. She was proud of all of them and encouraged and supported them unconditionally. Donna was well-spoken, quick-witted, and smart as a whip. She made friends everywhere she went and was always the life of the party. Her positive attitude, compassion, and warmth drew people to her. At Watertown Convalarium, she was known for her generosity and always taking the time to ask others about their families and lives.
Donna was survived by four daughters, Doreen Darsh of Middlebury, Deirdre McDonald and her husband, Michael, of Middlebury, Holly Casperson and her husband, Grant, of Brookfield, and Lisbeth Darsh of Scotts Valley, Calif.; and her former husband, Ben Rodarte of Lancaster, Calif. Donna was predeceased by her daughter, Lynn Darsh of New York City. She also left her beloved grandchildren, Lisbeth Garassino of Pompano Beach, Fla., Erin, Brittany, and Lindsey McDonald of Middlebury, Jeremy and Hannah Casperson of Brookfield, and Justas and Sam Rodarte of Scotts Valley, Calif. Donna was predeceased by her grandson, M. Joseph Garassino of Stamford. Donna was also survived by her sisters, Zita Diggetts of Hattiesburg, Miss. and Annette Gartzman and her husband, Paul, of Palm City, Fla.
Funeral services for Mrs. Darsh are Tuesday at 10 a.m. when a Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. John the Evangelist Church, 570 Main St., Watertown. Those planning to attend are asked to meet directly at the church. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waterbury. Relatives and friends may visit with Aldona’s family on Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the O’Neill Funeral Home, 742 Main St., Oakville.
In lieu of flowers and to honor Aldona’s memory, contributions may be made to St. John the Evangelist Church, 570 Main St., Watertown CT 06795.
To extend online expressions of sympathy to the family, or for information, kindly visit the funeral home website at oneillfuneralhome.com.
