Darlene Kay (Neilsen) Paulette, age 51, of Claremont, succumbed to cancer Monday, September 20, 2010, at her home in Claremont surrounded by her family.  Darlene, the daughter of the late James Christian Neilsen, 3^rd and Constance Snell Neilsen, was born in Springfield, Vermont on November 2, 1958.  She moved with her family to Claremont in 1964 and attended Claremont schools.

Dar married her best friend and the love of her life, Michael P. Paulette, at the home of friends in Unity on February 20, 1982.  She enjoyed the early years of their marriage as a housewife and stay-at-home mom.  She worked as a cashier at P&C Supermarket, obtained her GED and earned her Medical Assistant Certification at the NH Vocational Technical College.  She was employed at Valley Regional Hospital as a phlebotomist and desired to further her career in the medical field, however, injuries sustained in an automobile accident forced her to pursue other interests.  She would later learn title abstracting, and, a tireless worker, she took great pride in the successful operation of her own business covering many towns in New Hampshire and Vermont.

Darlene was particularly interested in carrying on the traditional skills of hand quilting, darning and cross-stitch, growing her own flowers, vegetables and herbs, making her own pesto, spaghetti sauce, soups, jams and pickles.    Darlene also had a love of thrift store shopping.  The combination of a keen eye and her frugality landed her many an envied bargain.

Dar had a dry sense of humor that was priceless.  She had the uncanny ability to utter a few simple words and set the room on its heels.  In fact, Dar once dreamed of making her debut at the Comedy Club except, she had to admit, she would have to outlive her family because, of course, they would be the source of her material. 

As a child Dar could often be found in the attic trying on her mother’s wedding gown.  On August 6, 2010, Dar was the guest of honor at “Bride’s Night”, an opportunity for the daughters of the Neilsen sisters to re-wear their wedding gowns and enjoy a girls’ night at the Common Man Inn.  Having had no wedding gown when she married, Dar was delighted to learn that she had been gifted a wedding gown for Bride’s Night through the generosity of Elegant Bridals.  Darlene spent a most relaxing evening in the hot tub, munched on junk food with her sisters, daughters, nieces and grandchildren, and enjoyed the best night’s sleep she’d had in quite some time.  She topped the night off by making another trip to the hot tub before a leisurely breakfast in her spa robe at the Common Man Restaurant the next morning.  Truly an unforgettable night for an extraordinary lady!

Dar was raised in a loving home and her devotion to family exceeded all other loves and interests in her life.  She found immeasurable joy in her role as a grandmother. To say that she was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt or daughter seems inadequate.  Mere words are insufficient to describe the generous, giving and caring human being that was Dar.  Her love knew no bounds.  She had a huge heart and would go to the end of the earth to bring a smile to the faces of those she loved.  Her love was returned tenfold throughout her life and most especially in her last days as her family held her hands and walked by her side in her final journey.

Darlene is survived by her husband, Michael, a son, Johnathan Michael Paulette, his fiance, Meghan Gentes; two daughters, Kimberly Lynn Deline, her husband, Damien, and their two children, Curtis and Natalie; and Amy Marie Allard, her husband, Chad, and their daughter, Addison; her mother, Constance Snell Neilsen; two brothers, James Christian Neilsen, IV and his wife, Anita; and Bruce Allen Neilsen; three sisters, Barbara E. Paronto and her husband, Skip; Nancy A. Young and her husband, Chuck; Marilyn J. Colby and her husband, Roger; nieces, Kristel Paronto Davis (who was very much like a daughter), Jessica Young Adams, Tabitha Colby, and Sarah Neilsen; nephews, James C. Neilsen, V, Richard Neilsen, William Neilsen, Aaron Neilsen, Andrew Neilsen, Mark Colby, Roger Colby, Sean Colby, and Scott Colby; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.  Darlene was predeceased by her father, James Christian Neilsen, 3rd.

There will be no calling hours. 

Funeral services will be held Saturday morning September 25^th at 11am, at the Stringer Funeral Home, 146 Broad Street, Claremont with Rev. James Fischmann officiating. At Dar’s request anyone attending the service is asked to dress casually.  The family suggest donations be made in her memory to the Sullivan County Humane Society, PO Box 111, Claremont, NH 03743.