Obituary

Lura "Darlene" Abba, age 93, of Hobart, Indiana, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2025. She was born on January 12, 1932, in Burnt Prairie, Illinois, to Jesse and Lena (Hunsinger) Oakley.

Darlene was devoted to her husband Bill, the love of her life. The Lord blessed them with six children, four daughters and two sons. Together they taught their children the importance of living a life pleasing to the Lord. She found great joy in loving and serving her family tirelessly. Darlene liked to sing and was a member of the Liberty Belles singing group in her younger years and sang in the church choir for as long as she was able. She was a faithful member of New Hope Baptist Church, Hobart, IN for over 45 years, and most recently, Eastlake Baptist Church, Crown Point, IN. She served in several ministries in her church, was a Girl Scout troop leader and volunteered at St. Mary's Hospital for twenty years.

She is survived by her devoted husband of nearly 77 years, William Abba; her six children: Sandra Ison, Rhonda (Doug) Fitzgerald, Debbie (Mike) McComas, Steve (Kathy) Abba, Vicki (Mike) Cicillian, and Michael (Carol) Abba; as well as her cherished grandchildren: Stacie (Steve) Corbin, Jesse (Sandra) Ison, Shane (Crystal) Ison, Charles (Reese) Ison, Marybeth (Brad) Wilkerson, Darla (Jack) Long, Colette Fitzgerald (Edgar Figueroa), Drew (Alexa) Fitzgerald, Nathan (Chrissy) McComas, Kyle (Amy) McComas, Jackie (Mike) Pervan, Kelly Abba, Nikki Abba (Karl Huether), Payton (John) Sams, Jeremy (Debra) Grant, Katie (Josh) Plath, Amber Cicillian Silver, Leann (Sal) Monte's, Allison Abba McCarthy, Rachel (Jared) Daugherty, Matthew (Jordan) Abba, and Jordan Abba. She also leaves behind 54 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren who will carry her memory forward.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and Lena (Hunsinger) Oakley; sister Earlene Hedden; granddaughter, Aimi Dickerson; and son-in-law, Charles Ison.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 12:00 pm at Eastlake Baptist Church, 7121 E. Lincoln Hwy., Crown Point, IN 46307 with Pastor Ben Hammond officiating. Burial to take place at McCool Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 from 10:00 am until time of service at the church. in lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate or VNA Hospice of NWI at https://www.vnanwi.org/give. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.ee-fh.com.