Arlene was born in Sacramento, California, and raised in the surrounding Valley and Foothills. With her husband of 65 years, Kenneth, they raised 4 children and one grandson as their own. She and Kenneth moved to Oroville in 2018 to be with family. 

She was a kind and soft-spoken woman with remarkable skills, revered for her exceptional abilities in crocheting, embroidery, beadwork, and painting crafts. Her passion for art was more than just a hobby; it was a means through which she expressed love and warmth, as each piece she created told a story to bring beauty into the everyday life of her family and friends. She inspired and passed on these talents to her children and grandchildren.

She leaves behind a legacy of eleven grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.