Darlene Lynch Klein

Darlene Lynch Klein, 79, a devoted wife and mother known for her sense of humor, loyalty to
friends and family, and exacting opinions, died unexpectedly at home in Ithaca on Oct. 21, 2023.

Darlene was born June 22, 1944 in Niagara Falls, NY, to William (Bill) H. Lynch and Jean Lynch
Branigan. The oldest of Bill and Jean’s six children, Darlene grew up in Ithaca and graduated
from Ithaca High School in 1962. After attending Missouri Valley College and the University of
Vermont, Darlene returned to Ithaca and fell in love with Cornell architecture student David L.
Klein. They married in 1969.

Shortly after marrying, Darlene and David acquired their first Afghan hound which started a
lifelong hobby of showing and breeding show dogs. A lifetime member of the Finger Lakes
Kennel Club, she showed Afghans and later greyhounds, winning Best of Breed with her
greyhound at Westminster in 2007.

Darlene enjoyed many activities and passions. She put her knack for sewing and beading to good
use as the designer of figure skating costumes for her daughter, and as a costumer for several
plays at Elmira College. She loved genealogy, thoroughly researching both sides of her family
tree and often excitedly sharing the interesting family history she discovered. She could read a
book a day, and generously shared her Barnes & Noble collection with friends. And she
volunteered extensively. Over the years, Darlene had been a highly successful fundraiser for
Lakeview Cemetery, an advisory board member of the Cornell Baker Institute, newsletter editor
for the Greyhound Club of America, show chair of the Salt City Dog Shows in Syracuse, and co-
chair of the Class of 1962 reunion committee.

But her greatest passion in life was being mom to Bridget and Casey and grandma to Caroline
and Katherine. Darlene spent many hours on the road traveling to her kids’ figure skating
competitions, dance competitions, ski races, and hockey games, and in more recent years, doting
on her granddaughters and proudly keeping up with their many activities from volleyball and
dance to flute and piano.

Her parents predeceased her, as did her sisters Teri-Anne Nindl and Betsey Napier, brother
William (Bill) H. Lynch II and infant brother Jeffrey Lynch. She is survived by her husband
David, Ithaca; her daughter Bridget (Tim) Curry, Stamford, CT; son Casey Klein, Washington,
DC; granddaughters Caroline Curry and Katherine Curry, Stamford, CT; brother Timothy Lynch,
Orlando, FL; sister Hunter Lynch; sister-in-law Roberta Klein, San Diego, CA; and numerous
nieces, nephews and cousins whom she loved dearly.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Darlene’s memory can be made to the AKC Humane Fund
( https://akchumanefund.org/ ) or the American Heart Association ( https://www.heart.org/ ).

Friends may call from 3-4 pm on Sunday, October 29th at Bangs Funeral Home, 209 W. Green
Street, Ithaca, NY. A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 30th at 11 am at the
Funeral Home with Steve Lawrence officiating. Burial will follow at East Lawn Cemetery.