Arlene Dunaetz

July 25, 1932 - November 30, 2024
Arlene Dunaetz, 92, born July 25, 1932 in Cleveland, Ohio, passed away peacefully at home on November 30, 2024. She is survived by her loving daughter Nancy Dennis (Patrick), granddaughters Chelsea Uhl (Alex Schwartz), Claire Dennis, and Lauren Uhl (Ravi Patel), and her precious great-granddaughter Presley Nimoy-Schwartz.

At age 4, Arlene moved to Boyle Heights, where she attended Sheridan Elementary School, and met a group of women who became her dearest friends for life. For decades, these friends gathered for monthly lunches. Together with five of these friends, Arlene participated in "Six Jewish Girls in Boyle Heights," a documentary about growing up in Boyle Heights in the 1930's- 1940's, produced by the Los Angeles Public Library. Arlene appeared in a Facebook commercial with four of these friends, which aired during the 2018 Super Bowl.

While attending Los Angeles High School, Arlene worked part-time at a bakery. It was there that she met the love of her life, Richard Dunaetz. They married on December 2, 1951 and enjoyed more than 65 years of marriage before Richard passed in 2017.

Arlene and Richard were parents to two children, Stephen and Nancy. Arlene was a loving and devoted wife and mother, always supervising homework, cooking delicious meals for the family, and becoming involved with Indian Maidens, Bluebirds, Campfire Girls and the PTA. She rose to become PTA President of Hazeltine Ave. Elementary School and served two terms as Valleyrama PTA Council President, representing 12 schools in the San Fernando Valley.

Once her children were in high school, Arlene rejoined the work force, beginning with a job as a loan officer at Security Pacific National Bank, and later at the DWP, as a Customer Service Supervisor. Following her retirement, Arlene enjoyed a part-time career as a travel agent.

Arlene and Richard traveled the world, visiting every continent other than Antarctica, often with family and friends. She enjoyed many trips and cruises to Europe, Australia, Hawaii, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean with Nancy and her family, as well as with her beloved sister, Annette and her husband Walter Lang.

Preceded by parents Benjamin and Goldie Light, her husband Richard, and her son Stephen, Arlene left this world to join Richard, her beloved husband with whom she shared the ultimate love affair.

Arlene was a model and adored wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother-always dispensing good humor and wisdom, with an agreeable demeanor. Grateful for the wonderful life she enjoyed, Arlene leaves us with the words "I lived, I loved, I laughed, I cried; my life on earth was one grand ride!"

Services will be held on Sunday, December 8 at 2:30 p.m. at Mount Sinai Memorial Park, 5950 Forest Lawn Dr., Los Angeles. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to City of Hope.