Funeral Details

We had wonderful scrabble games almost every Sunday for the past time in the nursing home. We shared our memories of our very long friendship from the time we meet at skating to the present. We lived through many ups and downs together. We loved each other. I will miss her.

Judy Loebbaka

My maiden name was Walz.
I have good memories of Arlene. We went through Boone together. The memories are no longer specific: just pleasant now. I went to Mather for 7 days. We moved east so I could remain at Senn where I had found a comfortable niche more appropriate to my maturity level.
My sympathy to her family.

Pamela Miller

You were a true friend and you will be missed deeply. Friends like you cannot be replaced.

Karen Taitel

Dear Elizabeth, David, and Howard:
Your darling, fun, talented mother was my lifelong friend beginning in third grade when Art and Claire moved with Arlenie and Sandy (I always called her Arlenie and I remain Loie) to the first floor of 6410 Rockwell, the building on the alley and next door to Ruby's hot dog stand, just steps away from Devon Avenue. Her cousins Butch and Mary were upstairs. Arlene and I never stopped giggling together. If you have all her classroom photos, you'll see that she and I are always seated next to each other on the end of the girls' first row. We slept over at each other's homes. She was impressed that I was living in an "upstairs/downstairs" house. Often when I slept over at the Kaplan apartment, I shared the bed with your great grandmother, Laika. She was adorable - she had a crinkly face, always smiling and laughing at us. Laika's maiden name I believe was Torchin. She was a first cousin to Frieda, the matriarch of my family's dear family friends, the Shiers.
So many scenes flash through me. Arlenie and I often laughed together at the memory of us being probably nine or ten and Claire getting impatient with us for fooling around at the kitchen table and not finishing our breakfast. You know how it is when you're trying to stifle laughter? Well Sandy kept trying to make me laugh and I was trying to hold it in so Claire wouldn't get mad at me and he said or did something and I couldn't hold it in and the milk shot through my nose and catapulted little white dots all over Sandy's face and of course we were hysterical and Claire just threw up her hands and gave up.

I remember joining at the dining room table for a seder - I came from a Workmen's Circle family of Jewish Socialists for whom organized religion was rejected.

We were in Brownies and then Girl Scouts.

DeeDee Cohen, Arlene, and I attended Camp Chi together for three weeks the summers when we were ten and eleven. We did so much together. We played baseball, we made up stories, we jumped rope, played jacks, bounced our pinkie balls chanting "one, two, three, O'lary and all the other sing-song accompaniments, we hung out. We "went on Devon," walking from one end of the neighborhood to the other. A bunch of us would go to the Northtown movie theater on Saturday afternoons. At ten years old you could do that in those days. We'd go to Neisner's dime store. I bought Tangee almost clear lipstick because that was what Arlenie got first. We liked the way it smelled. By seventh grade we were meeting in kids' basements, boys and girls, to play records and dance. I do remember walking into our 7th grade classroom in Boone's "new addition," in Mrs. McDaniel's room, and Arlenie was wearing a black jumper over a white blouse and she had little boobs!!! On my walk home from school that day, I concocted a plan with another friend who lived on my block to ask our mothers if we could get bras! And we did.
All of us girls formed a club called the J.U.G.s - Just Us Girls. We had lavaliers made with that engraved on silver spheres. Mine is still in my drawer. I'll bet Arlenie's is still around somewhere also.

Going to Senn High School was exciting and fun. It was our idea of THE Happy Days high school. However, being the oldest kids at brand new Mather H.S. gave us a lot of opportunities. Arlene was a cheerleader, I was involved in the yearbook and student council. We were in two clubs together. I wrote skits and Arlenie was always among the performers. She and I dressed as devils and sang for one performance when our club sponsored a dance.

We didn't really see each other while we attended college. I drove out to see her once where she was living in a suburb during her first marriage. I didn't know Stuart.

But after that, we'd talk on the phone. My daughter Jessica was a big fan of Dr. Ann and so was Arlene - up to a point. She and Joel rode their motorcycle out to the cottage and I got to put on her yellow leather chaps. We would spend some time together as couples. With kids already older, we had a "girls" visit out at our cottage in South Haven - Arlenie, DeeDee, JoAnne, and me. What a great time! We kept in close touch during the period following the liver diagnosis. Carl and I came back to the Chicago area for that rousing celebration of her liver's first birthday. So Arlene! It was great to see Georgie there, and Chuckie Stepner and MariAnn. Arlene would occasionally come out to visit on her own in the summer, a few times when she'd drive from David's(?) cottage in Indiana.

When I received a call from Howard, I got scared. But then he put Arlenie on the phone and she sounded good and tried to convince me that she was good despite being told of liver and kidney failure. We had some long chatty phone conversations a few times since then.
For years, we'd call each other on our birthdays. She didn't call on my 82nd on May 13 and I wrote or called - I can't remember- and left a message. I was planning to call on June 24.

I almost said that with Arlene, there goes a big chunk of my childhood and growing up years, but of course she will always be there inside me. Yes, she was a powerful delightful personality and she did her damness to stay afloat. But still, the loss is great and terrible.

I wish you all well. She loved you dearly, which you already know.

Loie
Lois Weinrib Schwartz

Lois (Weinrib) Schwartz

Fond memories of my time with Arlene. A special lady with loads of love & affection for her many friends.

Jeff Kane

We grew up together living in the since I was 4 and Arlene 9. Our families were one big group! Our moms talked to each others on an intetcoms on the kitchens window. Arlene,, Sandy, Mari. Butch and I were than cousins, we were family. I will miss Arlene with great sadness even when it be a Superdawg or some other food we grew up with. Our hearts are broken for her kids and grandchildren. My love is for you all and I’ll see you all on the video. Love you all from Colorado

Skip Klawans

We are really excited to have you for Arlene's memorial. I wanted to share the Spotify playlist that will be played for the people that are not able to come to the memorial in person. It includes a lot of mom's favorite songs and artists that she loved and adored.
open.spotify.com/playlist/09PaaEkyx1nyZf1p2kkGG9?si=mp8OilCTTeqsubD7luX2VA&pi=Zm0vfcYoSw2uw

Elizabeth Lakin

My maiden name is Greenberg and I lived next door to Arlene and her family. I was their babysitter. I watched my first Saturday Night Live at their house. I learned about kids and a bit of psychology from her. Little did I know it would bring me to my professional career of nursing. Thank you Arlene.

Wendy DuFour

I am so sad to hear of Arlene’s passing. My family grew up with Arlene, Stuart, David, Howard and Elizabeth and they were dear friends to our family. Arlene was a “what you see is what you get” person which I respected so much. She always told you what she felt so you never questioned. She had a love of life that I always remembered of her. She was always such a strong person and such a fighter and she will be missed.

Reyna Mass

I will miss you forever

Karen Taitel

Although it has been several years since we have seen Arlene, we have very fond memories. As neighbors , and friends, we shared many good times as we watched our children grow up. The love on your hearts will keep her memory alive.
Steve and Judy Masur

Steve and Judy Masur

Here is the link to the slide show for all the folks who could not be with us in person.

spaces.hightail.com/space/4ZgqVkpCac


Please note: This gallery will not display on a phone, you’ll need to use a laptop or an iPad to view it.

Elizabeth Lakin