Obituary of Arlene Beatrice Wachs

WACHS: Arlene Beatrice passed away at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on November 17, 2015 at the age of 65 years. She was born in Winnipeg on June 24, 1950 and spent her youth there. She really enjoyed her visits to her grandmother's farm in Ericksdale. Arlene lived in the Brooklands area of Winnipeg and took all her schooling there where she completed her grade 12 Graduate University Entrance course. However, after meeting her life-long sweetheart in grade 10, she decided to work at the Bank of Commerce in order to save money for a planned marriage in 1973. Arlene loved life and cared for people and animals all her life. If someone was in need, she always found a way to help them. She moved to Brandon after getting married and worked at the bank of Commerce until she started having children in 1975. Soon, she started to get involved in Literacy. Arlene was a founding member of the Learning Disabilities Association of Manitoba (Brandon and District Chapter) Adult Support Group in 1992. She was also a founding member of the local Parent to Parent Support Group which she was a member of from 1983 - 1989. One of her proudest moments was when she founded the Brandon Literary Council in Brandon in 1989 (to present) as Program Coordinator/Instructor. She developed the program, built the facility and sourced whatever funding she could to bring a successful outcome to all learners young and old with or without disabilities. Arlene also volunteered for countless organizations, including Brandon Family YMCA, University of Manitoba Continuing Education Division, Association for Community Living, Green Acres classroom volunteer, Child and Family Services, Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, Green Acres School Parent Council and Crocus Plains Advisory Council. She also taught piano, racquetball and dancing. Arlene received countless awards and recognitions throughout her career of which some are the Distinguished Service Award (2004) from the Learning Disabilities Association of Manitoba (Brandon & District Chapter), a nomination for the Lieutenant Governor's Medal for Literacy in 2000, a nomination for a National Access Awareness award for programming and work with individuals with disabilities in 1996 and a co-recipient of Best Educational Programming award from Westman Community Television in 1993. Arlene's most cherished times were spent with her family going for rides in the country, camping, fishing, hiking, family gatherings, going to the cabin and spending holidays together. She also loved ballroom and Latin dancing with her husband. Her other interests were music, racquetball, gardening, crafting, reading and animals. Arlene is survived by her husband Franz, her children Curtis (Carlie), Allan (Melanie), Cameron, Cathleen (Jon). Her grandchild Cooper. Her brothers Allan Mills (Evelyn), Kevin Mills and her sister Karen Coward (Martin). Her mother-in-law Hilda Wachs, sister and brothers-in-law and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents, Curtis "Jack" Mills and Beatrice Mills, father-in-law Lorenz Wachs and daughter Marnie. A private funeral service was held in her honour. Donations in memory of Arlene may be made to the Brandon Literacy Council at 129A- 12th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 4L8 – (a registered charitable organization).