Arla Van Paepeghem

1930 - 2021

Arla Van Paepeghem
April 8, 1930 - September 27, 2021
Meridian, Idaho - Arla Mae (Jorges) Van Paepeghem was born in Elwood, Nebraska to William Henry Jorges and Mildred Mae (Morgan) Jorges and spent her early childhood at the height of the depression in the Midwest. The family followed available work for her dad, William, from Elwood to Hermiston Oregon and eventually to Meridian Idaho. She remembered always having food to eat, a roof over her head, thriftiness and how to have fun without benefit of extras. She could make a stick of gum last for a week, a piece of foil for several applications, and pot roast for several meals.
She met her husband, Jack, as a neighbor on Cherry Lane and a classmate at Meridian High School. For Jack it was love at first sight, proposing to her at the age of 14! They became good friends and particularly enjoyed dancing together, winning several couples competitions in high school. They continued to dance together throughout their life. Even in her last years Arla remembered the steps and would dance with her caregivers.
Arla began working at the local bank at age 17 and was working there when she and Jack were married at St. Francis Cabrini mission church in 1952. Daughter Cindy was born in 1953, the little family moved to Pocatello in 1954 where Jack attended A & P school, Jackie was born in 1955, and they all moved to Seattle for Jack's new job at West Coast Airlines. While in Seattle Quinn was born, and in 1959 the family returned to Meridian. Jack worked for the Nampa Municipal Airport until his retirement in 1994. As 'empty nesters' you would frequently see them together, always holding hands. Their marriage was an incredible example of unconditional love for each other.
Arla loved her family and took pride in her work. She continued to work part time for the bank and then for a local optometrist until she took full-time employment at Zamzows original store in Meridian, from which she retired at age 56. Always responsible for earning a wage, she kept herself employed part-time until just a few years ago. Her favorite job was her last one, where she was the receptionist at Designing Team Salon in Meridian. She met many people there and made many friends.
Arla was preceded in death by Jack 2001 and Cindy (Geile) in 2009. Arla is survived by daughter Jackie Van Paepeghem Mullaney (Matt), son A. Quinn Van Paepeghem (Shirley), grandchildren Christopher Geile (Heather), Patrick Geile (Teri) , Benjamin Geile (Nicole), Elizabeth Geile, Jacob Van Paepeghem (Amy), Mallory Van Paepeghem Burke (Tyler) and nine great-grand children: Gracie, Cindy, Olivia, Penny, Simon, Maddy, Claire, Lola and Scarlette.
A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Apostles Catholic Church in Meridian, Monday, October 11. Rosary at 10:00 am, Mass begins at 11:00, reception to follow. Arrangements by the Cloverdale Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, monetary donations can be made to the Cindy Geile Memorial Music Scholarship, through the Boise State University Music Department.