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Today's Featured Biography

Darillyn Hill Patterson

My first marriage was in 1971 to a native Liberian. I met him in the beginning of my sophomore year at W.N.E.C. through my younger sister, who was dating a man from Kenya. Instead of finishing school, I got married and had a family.

In 7 years, I gave birth to 4 children -- 3 girls and a boy. A few years later I suffered a miscarriage in the first trimester of my pregnancy. (don't know if it was a boy or girl) Then my sixth child, a son, was born in 1985. In 1989 we were legally separated, in 1990 the divorce was final, and in 1991 I married my current husband. He is the father of a grown son from his first marriage. We are Catholic and went through the annulment process so that we could be married in the Church.

My first husband and I were on friendly terms, which was beneficial for our children. Simon never remarried. Somehow he was able to stop drinking after the divorce. The alcoholism had destroyed our marriage. He died suddenly in May of 2015. May his soul rest in peace.

As years have passed, my Catholic faith has become more and more important to me. When I had an office job in Springfield, I used to go to Mass at the Dominican Monastery in W. Springfield each day before going to work. Then I would return to the monastery after work to pray the rosary and vespers with the nuns. After awhile I realized I had a vocation to join the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). On May 7, 2006, I made my final promise as a member of the Lay Fraternity of St. Dominic (formerly referred to as a Third Order Dominican). There are photos of that special occasion at my Facebook page.

I am active in my parish -- teach 2nd grade C.C.D., am a lector, started a Marian Movement of Priests prayer cenacle on May 4, 1996, which I lead each Saturday morning at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Southwick. I'm also a long-time member of the charismatic prayer group in my parish. I go on retreat twice a year -- usually spring and fall. The last number of years the spring retreat has been a silent one with the Sisters of the Visitation in Tyringham.

I am active in the pro-life movement. As a matter of fact, I have written and recorded a pro-life song. It has been on the radio a few times, (WACE) as well as other songs I've written and performed. The songs of my CD can be heard at this website: www.airplaydirect.com/darillyn The lyrics are at that site, too. I continue to write songs as I receive inspiration from the Lord to do so. I hope to make more CDs in the future. (update in 2012: I have recorded more of my songs and hope to get them online) It is through my music that I evangelize. There is also a video of me on youtube.com, singing a song I wrote. It was recorded at St. Mary's Church in Westfield, MA. Just type my name into the youtube search box. The most recent song I wrote is one about euthanasia. I hope to get that online soon.

When my office job ended, I found work as a home health aide, helping the elderly in their homes so they won't need to be in a nursing home. It's very rewarding work. I did that from 2006 - 2015. Now I'm retired (as of Dec. 1st). I decided not to wait until I'm 66. I applied for social security benefits just after my 64th birthday. My husband, Ken, is a retired mathematician. He has been going to the Saturday morning prayer cenacle with me for quite awhile now and for the last few years he has been attending daily Mass, too. He goes on an annual retreat. It's so nice to have a husband who shares my faith. I feel sorry for people with spouses that don't have that in common.

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