Darleen Carroll

Darleen M. Carroll, age 95, died on January 26, 2026, at the Divine Providence Community Home.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm at Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye with a Prayer Service at 3:45 pm prior to the visitation. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church – North Entrance. Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. The clergy will be Fr. Mark Steffl. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Darleen was born on June 10, 1930, to Guido and Frieda (Kotten) Appel in Fulda, Minnesota. At the age of six, Darleen moved with her family to Sleepy Eye where she grew up and graduated from St. Mary’s High School. Darleen was united in marriage to Paul T. Carroll on October 14, 1948, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye.

Darleen worked in Sleepy Eye as a secretary in insurance and banking for many years. She was a member of the Church of St. Mary, the Council of Catholic Women (CCW), Christian Mothers Society, Divine Providence Auxiliary and a Guanellian Cooperator Third Order of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence.

Darleen received the Catholic Community Service Award and the Spirit of St. Mary’s Award.

Darleen is survived by her four children, Michael of Savage, David of Mankato, Mary of Sleepy Eye, and Nancy of Rochester; grandchildren, Paul (Amanda) Carroll, Diana (Jason) Geller, and Mark (Beth) Carroll; great-grandchildren, Lyla and Lincoln Carroll, Joshua and Jameson Geller, and Waylon and Tommy Carroll. She was preceded in death by her husband Paul and 11yr. old son Tommy; parents; brothers, Leon, Duane and Robert Appel; sister, Virginia (Appel) Gedney; sisters-in-law, Donna, Shelia and Florence Appel; brother-in-law, Austin (Bud) Gedney; and in-laws, Earl Carroll, Margaret Carroll – Zwaschka and Andrew Zwaschka.

Darleen enjoyed her family, many good friends, her home and yard, flowers, birds, playing bridge, reading, walking, traveling, sewing, crafts, watching the Vikings, and volunteering at St. Mary’s church and Divine Providence Community Home.

Mom loved the Sisters, her caregivers and the staff at Divine.

In lieu of flowers, Mass intentions or memorials to Divine Providence Community Home are preferred.