Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

OWLS HEAD - Darla L. Ilvonen, 50, died Friday, January 7, 2011, at her winter home in West Palm Beach, Florida, after a gallant battle with cancer.
Born in Rockland, October 2, 1960, she was the daughter of Donald L., Jr. and Evelyn Norton Teel. Educated in local schools, she was a 1978 graduate of Rockland District High School.
She first worked at the Gasprilla Inn at Boca Grande and the Wayfarer Hotel in Rockland. She later worked as a bookkeeper in her husband's business U.R. Ilvonen Earthmoving, next with Jake Barbour, Inc. and most recently with both J.K. Kalloch, Inc. and Performance Paving.
Darla met the Love of her Life, Uno R. Ilvonen and they were married in Rockland, September 17, 1982. The couple made their home in Owls Head where they raised their three children.
The door to the Ilvonen home was always open to all their children's friends. She was always willing to set one more plate at the table and was always there to listen to her kids and their friends.
Vacationing with family, wintering at her Florida home, gardening, reading and motorcycle riding with her husband, brought special joy and satisfaction for Darla.
Besides her husband of 28 years, Darla is survived by her three beloved children, Uno J. 'Jake' Ilvonen, Teel R. Ilvonen, Kalli L. Ilvonen all of Owls Head; a sister, Debbie Shepard and her husband Barry of Rockland; her step-father Hiram Brown and his companion Ann Moon of Rockland; two sisters-in-law, Shelby Pare and her husband Roger of South Thomaston, Tracy Ilvonen of Camden; a brother-in-law, Charles Knight and his wife Cathy of Birmingham, AL; her father-in-law, Richard Ilvonen and his companion Bena Andrews of Owls Head; two aunts, Elsie Brown of South Thomaston, Jeanne Foley of Rockland; a niece and nephew, Darcy Grotton and her husband Chris and children of Camden and Bret Shepard of Rockland; two special friends, who made her comfortable in the last days of her life, Jan Spyker of West Palm beach, FL and Heidi Stevens of Rockland; as well as numerous extended family and loyal friends.
Friends and relatives are invited to visit form 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, January 13, 2011, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, where a service in celebration of Darla's life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 14, 2011. Interment will be in Ocean View Cemetery, South Thomaston.
Those who wish may make contributions in Darla's memory to the Eino & Eleanor Anderson Scholarship Fund, C/O James Brannan Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 1021, Rockland, ME 04841.