Obituary of Arlene Edith Aylesworth

October 13, 1938 - October 23, 2023

Arlene passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her children at Agape Manor on Monday, October 23, 2023, after a heroic battle with bladder cancer.

Throughout her rich life, Arlene exuded strength, patience, kindness, grace and an unconditional love for her family and friends.

She dedicated her life to raising her children, supporting her husband Bob, and quietly giving her time and energies to organizations and causes that mattered to her.

A native Calgarian, Arlene spent her youth involved with the Boys and Girls Club and was a Majorette leader teaching countless youth and participating in many Stampede Parades.   In her teens, her first job was at Pickerdy’s diner.  At 15 she met her beloved Bob, and her life path was set.

Arlene completed school at Mount Royal and started her career at Canadian Natural Gas.   She left when her first child was born and embarked on her greatest achievement, motherhood.   Arlene happily immersed herself in raising three children all the while being her husband’s rock and supporting many groups that were important to her and to her family.   A dedicated volunteer throughout her life, Arlene belonged to the Daughter of the Nile; was a 46 year member of the Glendale Women’s Institute where she served in many board positions; served as a 4-H Sewing Club leader, a Brownie Leader; and was active in the Bearspaw Community Centre and the Al Alzhar Shrine Vintage Car Unit.

When Arlene's daughter graduated high school, she entered back into the workforce working alongside Bob launching Cochrane Dodge Chrysler and turning it into a thriving business until they sold it to enter retirement.

Arlene was blessed with many creative talents including sewing and knitting that she honed in her youth and shared throughout her life.   Arlene’s grandchildren and grand nieces, grand nephews and a few close family friends were the recipients of her treasured “Circle of Love” blankets.   In fact, through her last days, she was intent on finishing a special blanket for her first great-grandchild, Leo.   Gigi was filled with joy everytime she picked up her needles to create a cozy forever connection for Leo.

Music was another great love of Arlene's which she shared as an amazing piano player, an autoharpist and singer.   With some dear friends she started the “Harpies” in the 1980s and they met weekly and then monthly for many years to sing, play, catch up and solve the world’s problems.

Throughout their 51-year marriage, Bob and Arlene travelled often, either flying to places afar or touring North America in their motorhome.  Arlene treasured this time with Bob, family, and the friends they joined or met new along the way.  It was the people, even more than the places, that stayed in her heart forever.

Throughout the last 19 months, there were more loving people who cared for and supported Arlene.  "We're particularly grateful for the medical support of Dr. Lee-Ying and Jenna at the Tom Baker Centre, as well as the amazing kind-hearted staff at Agape Manor who became our family over the last two months."

Her children Ken (Tracy), Dean, Debbie (Michael); grandchildren Robbie (Nikita), Jordyn (Reiner), Andrea (Ali), Mckena, Charlee; and her great-grandchild Leo will miss their Mom, Nana, Grandma and Gigi forever. Arlene was predeceased by her husband Bob, her parents Fred and Grace Brown and her sister Laura Brown.  

The family will be pleased to welcome everyone to a celebration of Arlene’s life at a later date.  Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed at www.MHFH.com.

In living memory of Arlene Aylesworth, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.