Rita "Darlene" (Polich) McAuliffe-Craig

Rita “Darlene” McAuliffe-Craig, age 80 of Lawrence, died on January 10, 2023. She was born on January 7, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Mayme Polich. Darlene was a graduate of Lindblom Tech High School. She married Ed McAuliffe and the couple moved to Southwest Michigan in 1980. She retired as a billing clerk from Crystal Flash in Paw Paw. Darlene attended Hartford Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Catholic Church and was currently attending the First Baptist Church of South Haven. She enjoyed crafting and sewing clothing and several special wedding dresses. Darlene was a chef in disguise and liked to help make food for many gatherings. She was fond of her close friends in her lunch/dinner group who met to catch up regularly. Several years after the death of her husband Ed, Darlene married Thomas Craig in 2013.

She is survived by her husband Tom Craig; her children: Cindy (David) DeLoach, Eddie (Kristy) McAuliffe, Patty (Mike) Matheny, Andrea (Kevin) Tait and the loving Craig Family; her 16 grandchildren: Brad, Marc (Ciara), Jessica (Nick), Kyle, Blake (Justin), Haley (Cody), David (Samantha), Trent, Kinzie, Dylan, and Ella; her 15 great-grandchildren: Braylon, Peyton, Anderson, Mason, Beckham, Paisley, Grayson, Baylor, Charlie, Jaxon, Everleigh, Saddie, Natalie, Jameson, & Fancy Lynn; and her loving goddaughter Donna Weger. She was preceded in death by her husband Ed McAuliffe, her daughter Elin Mary, her sister Marie Mraz, and her brother Joseph Polich.

Family and friends are invited to visit Friday, January 13, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Adams Funeral Home, 502 West Michigan Avenue, Paw Paw, MI 49079, where a funeral service will be held at 4:00 p.m, with Pastor Jerry Koller officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.