LECIL I. ARENDS
Long-time Chandler resident Lecil Irene Smith Arends was born to Peter and Rosa Noyes Smith on the family farm near Wilmont, Minnesota, on April 24, 1914; she peacefully passed away January 9, 2021, at the age of 106 years, 8 months and 16 days.
Lecil and John (Jack) Arends were married February 25, 1939, and had eight children. Jack died in October 1971. Lecil was also preceded in death by her sons John (and wife Marge) and Jim (and wife Kitty); her six siblings: Mirl Smith, Ella Ommen, Eunice Yantzy, Woodrow ("Dode") Smith, Evelyn ("Zell") Pederson and Elinor Augesen; and in-laws Carl and Fannie Petersen.
She is survived by children: Bill (Rose) Arends of Minneapolis MN, Joyce (Bruce) Hanson of Waterbury CT, Linda (Larry) Hill of Independence MO, Sandra (Bill) Caron of Denver CO, Tom (Diane) Arends of Austin MN and Cheryl Wahbah of New Hope MN. Grandchildren: Carla (Rod) Wagner of Gillette WY, Douglas (Jennifer) Arends of Gold Bar WA, Leah (Doug) Vissia of Plankinton SD, Joel (Jenifer) Arends of Elma WA, Carmen Guiterrez of Tacoma WA, Evon (Adriana Perez) Arends of San Antonio TX, Darren (Tonia) Arends of Monroe WA, Alisa (Todd) Thill of Mitchell SD, Jodi Arends of Kelso WA, Marlowe McConnell of Woodland WA, Maggie Arends of Minneapolis MN, Rachel Hanson (Richard) Vincent of Hamden CT, Shelley Hanson (Bob) Peck of Watertown CT, Pamela Hill (Allen) Epley of Evanston IL, Jennifer Hill of Roeland Park KS, Aimee (Jaime) Arends of Rochester MN, Debbie Arends of Owatonna MN, Greg Arends of Denver CO, and Heidi Wahbah of New Hope MN, as well as numerous great- and great-great-grandchildren. All of whom she loved dearly.
Besides raising her eight children, caring for her invalid mother-in-law for several years, helping Jack run the farm, and tending a big garden, Lecil worked for many years at Campbell Soup Company in Worthington. Long after she retired from Campbell, she, along with other "senior" former employees, returned to work there on an as-needed basis. She also managed to find time to travel the world, including trips to Germany, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Ireland, Israel, Egypt and Jordan. She loved poetry and could recite several H. Wadsworth Longfellow poems.
Lecil was a resident of Ecumen Meadows in Worthington for several years; her family is grateful for the loving and tender care she received there.
Memorials preferred to Ecumen Meadows or Westminster Presbyterian Church, Worthington. A celebration of Lecil's life will be held in the spring.
