Arlene A. (Arens) Taylor

Arlene A. Taylor (Arens) passed away peacefully on May 26, 2024, at the age of 92.  Arlene was born in Westphalia, Michigan on October 11, 1931, to Edwin and Verena Arens.  After leaving home she became a beautician and nurse aid at St. Lawrence hospital in Lansing.  She was married to Thomas Taylor in 1954, afterwards living in several states throughout Midwest and Southeast before returning to the mid-Michigan area in 1966, where she maintained a 75-acre farm in Vermontville for over 20 years.  She was employed at General Motors until her retirement in 1990.

Arlene was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Westphalia, although she regularly attended mass at St. Gerard’s in Lansing.  She was a kind and caring person who had a special love for all animals, especially cats and the wildlife outside her home.  She would feed birds, squirrels, and raccoons all year long and insisted that no harm come to any of them.  She was also a devoted and exceptionally generous mother and grandmother who stayed abreast of all their activities throughout the years, being especially attentive to holidays, birthdays, and their accomplishments.

She is survived by two brothers, Anthony Arens and Joseph (Eunie) Arens, both of Westphalia.  She is also survived by two children, Judith Taylor of Vermontville, and Jerry Taylor of Watton, MI as well as four grandchildren, Matthew Gates, Lorelei (Senthil Ranganathan) Taylor, Joseph (Amy) Stadel and Jennifer (Derek Dau) Taylor.  She is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Rocco, Xavier, Alasdair Stadel, Sajeeva and Amiya Senthil-Taylor.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Taylor, and siblings Loretta, Francis (Barb), Bernice (John) Schneider, Richard, Harold, Mildred, Kenneth, Rosemary Arens, and sister-in-law Sandra Arens.

We want to extend a special thanks to the staff at Sparrow-University of Michigan Hospital, all of whom provided exemplary care for her in her final days.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Parish in Westphalia on Tuesday, June 4th at 10:30am with visitation at 9:00am at St. Mary's Chapel, Westphalia. The burial will take place afterwards at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Westphalia.

Memorials can be made to St. Mary's Parish Westphalia, MI. Online condolences may be made at www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.

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