J. Arlene Harris

The Harris children have lost their matriarch; heaven, however has gained a gentle, loving and kind-hearted wife, mom, nana, grandma, Gigi, and friend. Julia Arlene Harris, known to friends and family as Arlene, quietly and peacefully passed away of natural causes at the home of her daughter, on the morning of Tuesday, June 9, at the age of 90. She led a long, full and happy life and left her children knowing that they had learned much from her. She was content and ready to join her husband, Fred. Arlene was born April 23, 1925, to Bernard and Julia Steimel. She lived her entire life in Traverse City and made many lifelong friends there. On June 25, 1946, she married Frederick Judson Harris. They were happily married for over 55 years, until Fred passed away in February 2002. Together they had three children, Michael, Jacalyn, and Cheryl. She was a founding member and participated in a Bunco club for 40 years. Her children all remember Bunco at their house where they often hung out in the living room watching, hoping to get a turn to throw the dice. They also remember all her baked goods, her open and loving home and her kind hearted spirit. She was the glue that held both the immediate and extended family together. Arlene was always the hostess for family events, where the house was always packed with people who had come to enjoy the abundance of love, food, and home baked goodies that she delighted in providing. On her 90th birthday her family gathered to celebrate her life, sharing stories of their favorite memories of her. Many of those memories included stories of her hospitality and her home baked treats. Family was of the utmost importance to Arlene. She was an amazing mom; she worked full-time and then always put dinner on the table when she got home. She was focused and insistent that a very important life goal—that each of her children would be a college graduate—was achieved. Given her focus and direction, that outcome was never in doubt. Her children came to appreciate how truly amazing she was when they became adults themselves and tried to follow in her footsteps. Arlene was very proud of her children. She went to visit all of them, no matter where they lived over the years. She traveled to many states, but the trip of her lifetime was to see Niagara Falls. She had an opportunity to go there after she graduated from high school, but out of respect for her mother’s wishes, she chose not to go. She fulfilled her dream in September of 2012, with her daughter Jacalyn and Jackie’s husband, Jim. The look on her face as she rode the Maid of the Mist will always be a priceless memory. Arlene was also proud of her grandkids and great-grandson. She attended as many of their special events as she could, even though she lived many miles from each of them. She got to see her great-grandson 4 times in his 3 years and she was thrilled. Arlene shared the same loving kindness with all the friends that she made during her long life. She touched the hearts and lives of many people in her own special way. She will be dearly missed by them all. She was the picture of strength and courage in all that life sent her way. It was her nature to put others before herself and to be content with the simple joys in life provided by her family and friends. Arlene was preceded in death by her mother, father, brother, two half-brothers, and her husband, Fred. She is survived by her son, Michael and his wife Suzanne; her daughter, Jacalyn and her husband James Kiefer; her daughter, Cheryl and her husband Hal Dorsman. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Seth Malaguerra and his wife Laura, Colin Malaguerra, Rachel Thurston and her husband, Chris, her great-grandson, Isaac Thurston and her grandson, Russell Dorsman. She is also survived by her former son-in-law Mark Malaguerra, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins and too many dear friends to name. Funeral services are being handled by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Viewing will be Sunday, June 14 6:00 PM–8:00 PM Services Monday, June 15 at 11:00 AM Graveside services to follow. Please join us in celebrating her life immediately following the graveside services at 4413 Foxfire Drive, Traverse City. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice in Arlene’s name. We love you mom, nana, grandma, Gigi. Until we meet again.

J. Arlene Harris

April 23, 1925 - June 9, 2015