Arlene L. Vath

Life Story of Arlene Vath

Our beautiful mother, Arlene, passed peacefully into God’s care on April 22nd after a long illness. She was born in Pueblo, Co. and moved with her family to Albuquerque in 1933 so her father could help start American Furniture Company. She attended Albuquerque High and graduated in 1945, after becoming somewhat infamous for blowing up the chemistry lab.

She met the love of her life, Dennis, at a UNM/USO dance and it was love at first sight. They married in 1947 and were married for 48 years until Dennis’ death in 1995. They moved many places for Dennis’ work, returning to Albuquerque in the early 50’s to settle permanently in their custom built home in NE Albuquerque where she remained until her death.

She worked at Presbyterian Hospital both as a teenager and later as an adult. She also worked for the American Furniture Company as a China and Crystal buyer for many years.
She was active in her community, starting a neighborhood watch in her neighborhood of 50+ years and holding gatherings at her home for Holidays, etc. She was active in the PTA and DECA when her children were in school and accompanied them on field trips out of town many times.
Many remember her most as a very vocal baseball fan who usually rooted for the opposing team, or any team that her ‘other son’, Brent Strom, was associated with. She was a long time Duke’s season ticket holder, sitting in the front row behind the visitors dug-out, keeping score and telling the coach how to do his job.

Arlene loved to travel and see new places. She and her children took trips to Hawaii and the Caribbean. She also loved gardening and flowers and had a secret desire to be a horticulturist. She especially loved Iris.

She was known as ‘The card lady’ by many as she never forgot a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion of her lifetime friends and their children. (Hallmark stock will drop now!)
She was also a ‘second mom’ to her children’s friends. She was always available to talk to and was a good listener when you just needed to sort things out. Her kitchen table was a favorite gathering place for these conversations. A glass or cup of tea could fix anything.

She enjoyed sewing and doing alterations for people, as well as knitting and crocheting. She was so very talented in so many ways, many of which she passed on to her children. She sold many of her creations in on-line stores that Tom helped her set up and manage and is now the sole proprietor.

More than anything, she loved her animals and referred to her children’s animals as her ‘grand-dogs’. She was an advocate of rescue not breeding. She left behind her beloved dog, Miss C.
Arlene is survived by her children, Thomas and Linda Vath, and her brother Lee ‘Curt’ Cunningham and daughter-in-law, Pam Vath. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Josh Vath and Erin Dobias and great grandchildren Collin Vath and Liam Dobias. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis, her oldest son, Bill, her younger sisters Jeanne and Joanne, as well as her parents, George and Thelma Cunningham.

We cannot begin to fathom the many ways in which she touched our lives and the many gifts she blessed us with, but we do know that her absence will be felt by many for a long time to come. She was loved and adored by so many people and will be missed tremendously.

The family wishes to thank the many friends who supported us during this difficult journey, as well as Hospice of New Mexico for their loving care of our mother. Cremation has taken place. Life Celebration services will be held at 2:00 pm on May 26, 2016 at Wyoming Chapel. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Animal Humane of New Mexico, or an animal rescue organization in your area, https://animalhumanenm.org/ .