Arleene Jane Hendrick

Arleene and I became lifelong friends starting in third grade. Her family was mine and mine was her's. We would sit for countless hours on the terrace of her family's home figuring out life. Her mother would bake sponge cake on Fridays. She would call for her husband by saying, HERBERT. After my father passed, Arleene's mother whisked me away. Our mothers had a pack that we would not go to a school for the gifted in Manhattan because we would have to travel on the subway. Arleene was the maid of honor at my wedding. She looked lovely in her green gown. When she and Artie were to be married, her father made a visit to Artie's grandmother. His goal was was to convince the grandmother that Arleene was Jewish and not Irish. In our youth, my brother, Bernard, would take us to Fairyland and White Castle. We would hang out with Don, Rhoda and Simone. Artie was so in love with Arleene. We had a great time when I went to visit them in Virginia. I got to see Brad and Stefani and meet the grandchildren. Arleene and I spent a lot of time on the computer looking up our high school boyfriends. Arleene was two days older than me and was always giving me advice. As recently as several weeks ago, she was giving me advice on my dating life at age 76. I still like to look at my wedding gifts from all of the Baitlers. Arleene will always be with me. Perhaps, Rhoda and Stefani will continue to give me advice. Arleene would like that.

I have to admit that COVID-19 gave me a chance to become a really good friend with this wonderful, funny, smart, and sometimes irreverent woman. Starting in early August I would drive to her on Wednesday afternoons and we would spend most of the grand time eating Stef's banana bread and laughing at everything we could think of. I couldn't wait for Wednesdays!! We texted and talked a lot during the week but Wednesday was the best. I will miss her so very much and Wednesday will never be the same.

Brad and Stef .... she loved you both so much. May her memory be a blessing.
Suzi Stone