Obituary of Arlene F. Persson

BOONTON TOWNSHIP---Arlene Persson died Monday, May 31, 2010 at Merry Heart at Boonton Township following a brief illness. She was 92. Born in Philadelphia, she lived in Maplewood and Caldwell before moving to Boonton Township in 1954. She received her bachelor's degree in nursing from Newark University Hospital School of Nursing and worked at Riverside Hospital, Boonton Township, when it first opened. Later she was appointed as Boonton Township Nurse, serving for several years. She retired in 1963. Arlene was an active member of the Rockaway Valley United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School, was the financial secretary and membership secretary for over 20 years. She also worked actively for the United Methodist Women. She was a member of the Friends of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum and a volunteer with the Morris County Parks Commission, where she helped establish and worked on the E.K. Hammond Wildflower Trail at the Tourne Park for over 35 years. Arlene was the last-living charter member and a past president of the Rockaway Valley Garden Club and was past-president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Boonton Township Fire Department. A devoted mother, wife and grandmother, she loved traveling, gardening, knitting, reading, embroidering, cooking and serving and sharing time with her family. Her husband of 58 years, Eric, died in 2000. She was also predeceased by her daughter-in-law, Patricia in 2002 and her eldest son, Eric, Jr. in 2004. She is survived by two sons, Kurt and his wife Rhonda and Rev. David and his wife Wendy, all of Boonton Township and six beloved grandchildren, Lynn, Eric III, Jenna, Ian, Erica and David Persson. Memorial services will be held Friday, June 4th at 11:00 A.M. at the Rockaway Valley United Methodist Church, 38 Valley Rd, Boonton Township. The interment will be private. Friends may call at memorial visitation on Thursday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the Mackey Funeral Home, 107 Essex Ave., Boonton. (mackeyfh.com) In lieu of flowers, contributions in Arlene's memory may be made to the Rockaway Valley Garden Club, The Boonton Township Fire Department or the Rockaway Valley United Methodist Church