Arlene Ann (Zeman) Wagner, long term resident of Midlothian, passed peacefully July 23,2016 after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. She was born October 28,1943 in Chicago, IL, daughter of the late Charles M. Zeman and Mildred Plechaty. She is survived by her spouse William H. Wagner, brothers Charles J. Zeman and James A. Zeman , sons Eric K. Wagner (Jayne) and Kurt M. Wagner (Kimberly), daughter Julie L. Sabatini (Anson), grandchildren Sophia, Olivia, and Kurt Michael Wagner, and Taylor and Nicholas Sabatini, as well as many nieces and nephews. Arlene graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Masters Degree in English and Math. She taught for 40 years at different levels at St Stephen Lutheran Church and Ashburn Lutheran Church. Arlene was very active in her community and church. She was an avid reader, craftsperson and cook. She also loved to travel and be with her family. A memorial Service will be held at 11:00am on Saturday. August 6th at St Stephen Church, 14700 Kildare Ave. Midlothian, IL, 60445. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 525 West Monroe St., Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60661

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Published by SouthtownStar from Jul. 27 to Jul. 28, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Arlene Wagner

5 Entries

Leslie Gratton

August 6, 2016

I was very saddened to hear of Arlene's passing. She had been in my thoughts just days before receiving Bob Larson's e-mail. Our friendship together dates back to Mt. Greenwood Grade School and our 8th grade graduation class. We would all get-together to practice our part in the ceremony. We had a great time listening to each other sing.

I recall our 50th high-school reunion when I learned of her MS. We chatted quite a while about this as my daughter-in-law was diagnosed with MS as well.

I've always admired Arlene as she was an exceptional friend, daughter and student. My condolences to Bill and her family.

August 3, 2016

We are truly saddened by the passing of our friend Arlene, though we know she suffered much in her struggle with MS, and we know she has found peace in this passing. We're her friends of many years ago--so we see Arlene through the prism of our precious high school years together, 1957-1961, when we were a circle of 14 girls who felt--at least in the electric company of one another--"unstoppable."

We were together as often as we could be--in class, at lunch, at sorority meetings and weekend sleepovers, at parties and dances and so many summer evenings or school-year afternoons, playing bridge and gossiping in each other's homes, or seeing and being seen on those exhilarating occasions when someone could get the car.

In some ways--in our limited but puffed-up teenage wisdom--talking over the adolescent crises we didn't discuss with our parents, we clumsily raised each other. By most accounts, Arlene was the most grounded and selfless one among us--uncomplaining in the extra responsibilities she carried at home, always generous in the way she cared for her family when they needed her. When her mom was seriously ill, she left our girl gatherings early to go home and fix dinner for her dad, Chuck and Jimmy. We didn't say it clearly enough as fifteen-year-olds--to her or to others--but we knew she met life's challenges with exceptional strength and grace. We genuinely admired her.

Our college paths and the years that followed scattered us across the country, but we all drew immeasurable confidence from the friendship we shared more than 50 years ago. Some of us visited with Arlene at our 50th reunion in 2011--and there we could feel once again, despite her physical struggle, a bit of the special energy we had created when we were young, together, and full of ourselves and each other.

Those memories have enriched us all incalculably through our adult lives--and because Arlene was part of "the way we were," she is also part of the way we are. We knew, and still know, her deep inner resource. We honor the generous heart she kept through her long struggle with illness, and we offer our love and treasured memories as part of the celebration of her life.

Mary Ann (White) Read
Mary (Mackelmann) Silva
Barbara (Kaden) Smith
Janet (Nay) Barry

D D

July 31, 2016

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Anson & Marilyn Sabatini

July 30, 2016

Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this sorrowful time.

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