Isabella A. Arndt

Arndt, Isabella A. KINDERHOOK Isabella A. Arndt, 84, of Kinderhook died Thursday, April 14, 2016, at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center in Guilderland, after a prolonged illness. Born October 20, 1931, in Brooklyn, she was the eldest daughter of the late Pietro and Francesca "Giuseppa" (Culcasi) Lombardo of Italy. She graduated from Bushwick High School in 1948 at the age of 16 after having skipped two half-grades. Highly proficient in typing and stenography, "Isabel" and "Lisa" worked for Container Laboratories, Inc. in the Flatiron district of Manhattan as secretary to its president. It is there that she met her future husband, Paul. The couple married in 1954 and moved Upstate. She learned to drive at age 51 and worked at Barnwell Health Facilities for 20 years, spending most of her career as a bookkeeper there. She was a member of the Tri-Village Branch of the Columbia Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, St. John the Baptist Church in Valatie, as well as a charter member of the Docents of the Columbia County Historical Society, where she gave tours at local landmarks: the James Vanderpoel House and the Luykas VanAlen House in Kinderhook. Isabel had a life-long love of opera, pets, and her family that persevered throughout the advanced stages of her illness. In addition, she enjoyed musicals, singing, classic movies, old homes, antiques, word puzzles, and was an avid reader and skilled cook. She was a devoted, loving wife and mother and will be forever missed. She is survived by her husband of nearly 62 years, Paul H. Arndt; her five children, Curtis P. Arndt (Nancy) of Carlsbad, Calif., Keith G. Arndt (Rowena) of Rhinebeck, N.Y., Elise A. Eddy (Rob) of Knoxville, Tenn., Christopher M. Arndt of Albany, and Michael P. Arndt of New York, N.Y.; her two sisters, Annabella J. Lombardo of Monroe Township, N.J. and Maria P. Travia of Bartlett, Ill.; sisters-in-law, Caroline R. Heart of Arlington Heights, Ill. and Jeannette M. Cuomo of Peoria, Ariz.; her beloved grandchildren, Alexander H. Arndt, Olivia R. Eddy, and Grace K. Eddy; as well as many nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 20, at St. John The Baptist Church, Valatie, with the Reverend George Fleming officiating. Private burial will follow at St. John The Baptist Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Tuesday, April 19, from 6-8 p.m. at the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, 1015 Kinderhook St., Valatie. For those who wish, donations may be made in her name to Tri-Village Hospital Auxiliary.