Calamo Creek ran along Darelyn Handley's back yard, so she adopted it like another child, making sure the natural flow was as undisturbed as she could, flowing in harmony with the native plants and animals in the Springvale community of Springfield. Darelyn Handley's enthusiasm, sense of neighborhood and intelligence were all traits that will be missed around the Springvale community as well as the whole Lee District, after her death on Wednesday, July 14. Handley was eulogized in an informal ceremony, Tuesday, July 20, at a clearing next to Garfield Elementary school.
Susan Maher, a neighbor, remarked on Handley's enthusiasm for Calamo Creek. "Darelyn was involved in getting Ann (Gerstenberger) and I to be a stream monitor," Maher said. "She really cared about the environment."
Sons Thomas and Ben Handley were surprised that so many gathered at the park to remember their mother.
"I'm stunned and bowled over by how much her impact was felt. She was more than a mother, more than a wife, more than a tree lover and mushroom eater," Ben Handley said.
"Both she and my dad taught me so much about the world. I'm going to miss her," said Thomas Handley.
Peggy Cope, the manager of the Richard Byrd Library near Springfield Plaza, remembered how Handley was so aware of doing things right, that she called from Florida to extend her book checkout date because she had borrowed a book that was almost overdue.
"She certainly touched a lot of lives," Cope said.
BYRD LIBRARIAN Renu Ganeriwal was active with Handley in the book discussion group at the library. Whatever book the group was discussing, Handley knew about it.
"Very enthusiastic, very energetic. She had a wonderful knowledge," Ganeriwal said.
Handley was on the forefront of tree planting and cleanup projects at the creek, some involving Scouts and neighbors. Burl Pudleiner, a scoutmaster, read an e-mail he received from Handley on Friday, July 9, about an opportunity for the Scouts to learn about wildlife and possibly earning a badge.
"When we think of Darelyn, that's what we think of, her spirit of giving," Pudleiner said.
Supervisor Dana Kauffman (D-Lee) shared his memories of Handley at the gathering. "A good Springvale bear hug, that's the hug she'd give," Kauffman said.
One time when Calamo Creek flooded, Handley knew what to do and took charge of the cleanup project, herding people around like a border collie, Kauffman remembered.
"She was always herding you around," Kauffman said.
Handley moved into Springvale in 1972 with her sons and late husband Robert Handley. Years ago, when her sons attended Garfield Elementary School, Handley became involved and stayed involved around the school. Last year was the school's 50th anniversary, so Handley recruited students to help.
"Next thing I knew, Darelyn was up at Garfield convincing our fifth-grade students they were ready to interview 20 senior citizens in the neighborhood," wrote Judy Thompson, Garfield principal, responding by e-mail.
In addition to her efforts on the Tree Commission and around Springvale, Handley was on the distribution team at The Connection Newspapers for 16 years.