Arlyne A. Sehestedt

NORTHUMBERLAND — Arlyne A. Sehestedt, 84, of Queen Street, died Sunday, Sept. 3, 2006, at Nottingham Village.

She was born April 1, 1922, in Mineola, Long Island, N.Y. Arlyne was the fifth of five daughters born to Janet Lily (Gordon) Aitkenhead and Arthur MacArthur Aitkenhead, both from Glasgow, Scotland. She was married to Carl Sehestedt, who preceded her in death.

Arlyne was a graduate of Glen Cove High School in Glen Cove, N.Y.

She was employed in New York City for Mutual Life Insurance for several years before joining the Navy in 1943. She finished her naval career in the Pentagon and was honorably discharged in 1952.

She raised her children in Glen Cove, where she worked as the deputy commissioner of public safety for Glen Cove until 1963, when she relocated to Northumberland.

Mrs. Sehestedt was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was also a volunteer at Sunbury Community Hospital, where she received a 900-hour pin.

She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Northumberland, where she also volunteered for years in the office with her faithful pet, Teddy. She was an active leader in both Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.

Arlyne trained at Geisinger Medical Center to become an audiometric technician, where she specialized in working with hearing-impaired children until 1969. Her love of children took her to the Shikellamy School District, where she worked in the office and as an aide in classrooms for 17 years. She was affectionately known as "Gram." Arlyne retired in 1989 to travel, spend time with her grandchildren and enjoy her lifelong passion for bridge.

Surviving are one daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Thomas Flett of Thetford, Vt.; one son and daughter-in-law, Gordon and Karen Sehestedt of Northumberland; and two grandchildren, Ian and Ella Flett.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by four sisters, Isobelle Beaujon in 2004, Lillian Simington in 1999 and Ella and Janet, who both died in childhood.

There will be no viewing. Visitors may call from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Joseph W. Epler Funeral Home, Second and King streets, Northumberland, where the funeral will follow at 4 with the Rev. Dale F. Biesecker Jr. officiating.

Burial will be private at the discretion of the family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Arlyne's memory may be made to the Priestley-Forsyth Memorial Library, 100 King St., Northumberland, PA 17857, or the Degenstein Community Library, 40 S. Fifth St., Sunbury, PA 17801.