Born March 18, 1929, in Hamlin, she was the second-oldest daughter and one of 10 children born to Samuel G. and Yvonne (Parent) Poitras of Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Canada.
A nearly lifelong resident of Biddeford, she most recently resided at the MacArthur Apartments, where she enjoyed playing cards with her fellow residents, attending luncheons with former co-workers and participating in weekly bingo games in the local area.
She was also a dedicated communicant of St. Joseph’s Church of Biddeford, now Good Shepherd Parish.
As a young woman, Arlene began her working life employed by such former Main Street Biddeford icons as The Children’s Shop and Woolworth’s.
Subsequently, she started her lifelong career working in local mills during their manufacturing heyday, beginning with York Manufacturing; over the next 40 years, Arlene worked her way up to being a cloth Inspector for West Point Pepperell, retiring in 1994.
In 1953, Arlene and her close friend, Pauline Grenier (now Sr. Pauline Grenier), embarked on what would be one of her biggest adventures: traveling by bus across the country to California, where the girls ultimately lived, worked and had many fun experiences for the better part of a year. The return trip home by Packard automobile proved to be adventuresome as well. Regaling her family with tales of her adventures gave Arlene great pleasure through the years.
Always the liveliest of conversationalists, she was always a welcome and regular guest at all family and holiday occasions. She will be sorely missed.
Always admirably strong and independent, Arlene never married and is survived by: her sisters, Joan Martel of Saco, Olivine Poulin of West Lake Village, California, and Rose Marie Chenard of Plymouth, Massachusetts; her brothers, Robert Poitras and his wife Marilyn of Hillsboro, New Mexico, Kenneth Poitras and his wife Elena of Lancaster, California, and Roger Poitras and his wife Lori of Waterboro; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grand-nephews.
She is preceded in death by: her sisters, Jeanette Poitras, and Marie-May Hebert; and her brother, LCPL Norman Poitras, USMC, who died in the Vietnam conflict in 1966.
Visiting hours will be 10-11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford, ME 04005. A funeral service will be held immediately following at 11 a.m. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Biddeford.
To share condolences online, visit www.hopememorial.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Arlene’s memory may be made to: Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, 11 Hunnewell Road, Scarborough, ME 04074.
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