Darlene 'Babi' M. Breja

DARLENE "BABI" M. BREJA

Belle Plaine

Darlene "Babi" M. Breja, 89, of Belle Plaine, Iowa, passed away May 28, 2021, at Keystone Care Center surrounded by family.

Darlene was born Aug. 6, 1931, on the family farm rural Chelsea, to John and

Elsie Koutney. She attended country school in Chelsea, graduated from South Tama High School and later Paris Beauty School. Babi grew up with her three sisters who she adored. Darlene married her sweetheart, Joseph Andrew Breja, on Feb. 6, 1952. They began their married life early on in Belle Plaine but shortly thereafter moved to Elberon. They lived on Joseph's family farm before they purchased their own farm where they raised their three children. Babi was an excellent cook, baker and farmwife.

Darlene is survived by her sons, Robert (Julie) Breja of Belle Plaine and Mark (Janice) Breja of Chelsea; daughter, Marlys (Frank) Brooks of Tiffin; seven grandchildren, Jason (Christin) Pickart of Durant, Jennifer (Aaron) Slaymaker of Ely, Shannon (Derek) Brimeyer of Sherrill, Joe (Kayla) Breja of Pella, Laura (Nate) Rodemeyer of Williamsburg, Christopher Breja of Chelsea and Matthew Breja (Angie Benda) of Omaha, Neb.; nine great-grandchildren, Cade Pickart, Henry, Emmett and Ruby Slaymaker, Braelyn and Blake Brimeyer, Jackson and Hadley Breja, Elise Rodemeyer; and expected Aug. 2021 Baby Rodemeyer; and Marilyn Coover of Belle Plaine and Jeanette (Wes) Sebetka of Malcolm.

She preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Breja; parents, John and Elsie Koutney; and sister, Betty Worrell.

Mass of Christian Burial is 10 a.m. Thursday, June 3, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Belle Plaine. Service will also be livestreamed through the funeral service Facebook page. Burial will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery, Vining, Iowa.

Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 2, at Hrabak-Neuhaus Funeral Service, Belle Plaine, with rosary at

7 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.neuhausfuneralservice.com.