Arlene Mae Scarpelli

ARLENE MAE KASULKA SCARPELLI November 2, 1929 ~ October 20, 2015 "Arlene will be remembered for her deep love, generosity, intelligence, wisdom, and beauty." Arlene Mae Scarpelli was the eldest of four girls born on a farm outside Geddes, South Dakota to Rose Helen (McElroy) and Arthur Albert Frank Kasulka. She was born the year the stock market collapsed and grew up in South Dakota during the Dust Bowl. Being a child of the Great Depression, she was instilled with prudence and a strong work ethic; she accepted responsibilities with enthusiasm and a strong sense of duty. In 1943, after graduating from the eighth grade in Platte, South Dakota, Arlene and her family moved to Vancouver, Washington, where her parents worked in the Kaiser shipyards during World War II. In the schools she attended, McLoughlin Junior High and Vancouver High School, she was active in music, and was voted Mary Trapper (friendliest girl in school), Senior Class Secretary, and Prom Princess. Arlene earned an AA Degree from Clark College in 1949, working several jobs to pay her way. Before graduating in 1949, she fell in love with a young, handsome professor in the Business Department at Clark College, Antonio "Chick" Scarpelli. After she graduated, Arlene worked as a Bookstore Manager and Secretary to the Registrar of Clark College. On June 17, 1950, Arlene and Antonio were married at Vancouver's St. James Catholic Church, where they both sang in the choir. Arlene worked for an insurance company until motherhood became her highest priority, and she stayed home to raise their four children, run the household, and tend their vast yard and garden. She did all this while furthering her education at the University of Portland, where she earned her BA and MA in Education. Arlene and her husband were founding members of St. Joseph Catholic Church and School, where they sang in the choir and were in the first group of Eucharistic Ministers. Arlene began her elementary school teaching career at St. Joseph's in 1970. From there, she was hired by the Vancouver School District to teach 4th and 6th grade at Marshall Elementary School. Having earned the necessary certifications, she was asked to become one of the first female elementary school principals in the area, holding that position until she retired in 1989. For eleven more years, she substituted for elementary school principals in Vancouver and in the Palm Desert area. Arlene and Antonio were Co-Directors of President Eisenhower's People-to-People High School Ambassador Program for ten years, taking over 600 students all over the world, including to the Soviet Union, when American travelers were first allowed back into their borders. While on one of these trips, she and Chick endured a bomb threat on a plane home, along with thirty students. They also traveled all over the United States with their four children nearly every summer. After retiring, Arlene and her husband spent their winters in Palm Desert and La Quinta, California, where she worked on improving her golf game and made a multitude of "snow bird" friends. Arlene and her husband celebrated their 58th anniversary of wedded bliss in June 2008. Sadly, her precious Chick died on December 5th of the same year. Before he passed, the couple had been planning to celebrate their 60th anniversary by taking their entire immediate family on an Alaskan cruise. So, in August 2010, Arlene sailed with her 14 remaining family members on that anticipated cruise in honor of Antonio's wishes. This trip inspired Arlene to work on her travel bucket list with different members of her family. She had just bought new luggage and renewed her passport when she left us unexpectedly on October 20, 2015 from a brain hemorrhage. She had made it through most of her bucket list, including traveling to her 50th state, Tennessee, just 11 days prior. As the soul mates they were, Arlene and Antonio will now share eternity together. Arlene loved her family and friends above all possessions. She enjoyed spending time painting, listening to classical music, golfing, traveling, gardening, flower arranging, reading, being active in the church, volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul Society, and being involved in her children's and grandchildren's lives. Losing a loved one is difficult, but having so many happy memories to summon, gives solace to those of us left behind. Arlene Mae Scarpelli is survived by her three daughters, Kathryn (Patrick) Salverda, Nanette (Ned) Walker, Colleen (Stavros) Anastasiou; one son, Paul (Avaly) Scarpelli; six grandchildren, Lauren (Christopher) Rauch, Yeorgia, Arlina and Antonia Anastasiou, and Giovanni, Shaina (Mobbs), and Francesca Scarpelli; and her two sisters, Jean (Bill) Carpenter and Barbara (Jim) Reeves. She was preceded in death by her dear husband, Antonio Scarpelli, Jr; her parents, Rose and Arthur Kasulka; her sister, Eleanor (Stan) Green-Dewey; infant daughter, Ann Marie Scarpelli; and infant grandson, Anastasios Anastasiou. Viewing will be available at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, 1101 NE 112th Ave., Vancouver, WA 98684, Monday, October 26th from 6p.m. to 9p.m. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, October 27, 2015, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 400 S. Andresen Road, Vancouver, WA 98661, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Arlene Scarpelli Scholarship Fund at St. Joseph Elementary School, the St. Joseph Catholic Church Building Fund (both at 6600 E. Highland Drive, Vancouver, WA 98661,) or the Antonio Scarpelli Scholarship Fund at Clark College (at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, WA 98663.) Please sign her guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.

Arlene Mae Scarpelli

November 2, 1929 - October 20, 2015