Darlene Frana, age 89, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Regional Health Services of Howard County in Cresco, Iowa.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, August 10, 2026, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 W Main Street, Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. Jon Seda Burial will be held in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E Water Street, Decorah, Iowa. There will be no visitation before the service at the church on Monday morning; please come in and be seated.

Darlene Ann (Smith) Frana was born on September 16, 1936, the daughter of Loren and Florence (Mahoney) Smith in Waukon, Iowa. Darlene attended school in rural Winneshiek County, Glenwood Township, and graduated from Decorah High School in 1955. She was united in marriage to the love of her life, Dennis Frana, on December 28, 1955, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah. To this union, seven children were born: Denise, Daryl, Doreen, Donette, Douglas, Dean and Dawn. Together they farmed for fifty years and raised their family where Darlene was a stay-at-home mother that always kept busy. She provided childcare and sewing for people, as well as owned and operated The Sewing Basket for twelve years. In her later years she managed as well as volunteered at the gift shop at WinnMed. She enjoyed collecting sewing machines, oil cans, thimbles, flour sifters and fabric. Darlene was a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church, Madonna Circle, Catholic Daughters of America, and the Winneshiek Medical Center Auxiliary. Darlene was an amazing cook and her family was her world. Darlene spent countless hours making many beautiful quilts for all of them.

Darlene is survived by children: Denise (George Kakos) Shanks, Decorah, IA; Daryl (Sue) Frana, Webster, IA; Doreen Roney, Mabel, MN; Douglas Frana, Cresco, IA; Dean (Maria) Frana, Decorah, IA; and Dawn (Bob) Hawkins, Caledonia, MN.; One son-in-law, Bill Trisler; sixteen grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and eight great-great- grandchildren. Two sisters: Kate Hovden, Decorah, IA, and Karen (Buck Folkedhal) Dehning, Marengo, IA. Sister-in-law Luann Smith, Decorah, IA; David (Marie) Frana, Decorah, IA; Dale (Gloria) Frana, Decorah, IA; Janet Frana, Springfield, MO; Vivian Rongner, Spooner, WI.

Darlene was preceded in death by her beloved husband Dennis, her daughter, Donette Trisler, and her parents Loren and Florence (Mahoney) Smith. Two granddaughters: Melissa Shanks and Nancy Frana Knutson; One grandson, Robert Roney, Two sons-in-law: Duane Shanks and Jeffrey Roney, One great-great grandaughter Mariana Guess. Four brothers: Norm Smith, Earl (Eileen) Smith, Don (Joyce) Smith and James Smith in infancy. Two sisters: Mary (Vernon) Frana and Rita Smith. Her father-in-law and mother-in-law: Frank C. and Regina (Shindelar) Frana. Brothers and sisters-in-law: Donald Frana, Dolores (Tom) Lynch, Diana Frana, Jim Rongner, Francis Frana, Virgil Frana, Carmen Hovden and Harlan Dehning.A special thank you to Dr. Maher and the staff at Cresco Regional Hospital for all the compassion and care that they gave to our mom. Also, to Happier at Home and especially Kim Holmes, for helping us care for Mom.