Arlene "Ani" Petkus

Arlene "Ani" Petkus, of Florissant, Colorado, passed away at age 82 after a long and courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis.
Ani was born in Pensacola, Florida, and spent her childhood in Morocco, Guam, and Paola, Florida, where she developed a lifelong love of nature and adventure. Her father, Herman, was an engineer in the Navy and later with the Army Corps of Engineers. Some of Ani's favorite childhood memories were from her years in Paola, where her home sat on a lake. She and her sister, Edwina, loved pretending they were Huckleberry Finn, paddling around, fishing, and exploring. They picked oranges from the nearby groves, and the smell of orange blossoms remained one of her favorite scents throughout her life. She even had a pet alligator and raccoon back then and would occasionally see panthers in the wild.
At just 15, Ani married Silvio Marini and had two sons, Michael and Mark. She later moved to Colorado, where she met Raymond "Dutch" Petkus. They fell head over heels in love and, about a year later, welcomed their daughter, Aimee. She raised her children with a philosophy rooted in creativity, laughter, and curiosity.
Ani studied graphic arts at Auraria College and worked in education for many years, teaching art and special education at Miami-Yoder and Edison schools.
The family lived in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, until 1991, when they moved east to Yoder. When Dutch passed away in 2007, Ani was heartbroken and eventually moved to Florissant to start fresh and find a new community.
In 2015, she met Tom, the new love of her life, the same year her granddaughter, Ruby, was born.
Ani had a passion for plants and gardening, filling her homes and the hearts of those around her with life and color. During her years in Yoder, she maintained a greenhouse where she grew countless plants and flowers, creating hanging baskets to sell at farmers markets on weekends.
She was a bright, joyful, and spiritual soul who loved exploring the world's many paths to meaning. She will be remembered for her kindness, humor, and childlike spirit.
On her path toward enlightenment, Ani followed Guru Maharaji, through whom she learned transcendental meditation. She explored many of the world's religions with openness and curiosity, though she never subscribed to just one.
Ani is survived by her daughter, Aimee Petkus; son-in-law, Greg Patselas; daughter-in-law, Cindy Atencio; granddaughters, Nicole Marini and Ruby Patselas; great-granddaughter, Leslie; great-grandson, Nolan; and her sister, Edwina. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dutch; her sons, Michael and Mark; her grandson, Alex; and her brother, Marshall.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at Mountain Memorial Funeral Home in Divide, Colorado. Contributions may be made to the ACLU in her memory.
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