A Memorial Services for Arlene M. (Sibley) Wilson, age 88 of Watertown will be held on Friday (Nov 2, 2018) at 11:00am at Foxwood Memorial Park in Ogdensburg. There will be no calling hours. Arlene passed away on Thursday (Oct 25, 2018) at the Samaritan Summit Village.
She is survived by many nieces and nephews, greats and grands. She was predeceased by all of her siblings Russell, Seward & Harold Sibley and Betty York.
Arlene Mae (Sibley) Wilson was born on April 3, 1930 in the town of Fowler, a daughter of Seward R. & Carrie (Backus) Sibley. She went to the elementary school in Balmat, then 1 year to Gouverneur High School. Her family then sold the farm in Balmat and moved to DePeyster, where her father owned the general store. She later completed high school at Heuvelton, and graduated in 1948. She continued her education at Wallace Secretarial School for Girls in Ogdensburg and graduated in 1950. She worked as a secretary for many years in different fields of business, including Bagley & Sewell, until it was sold to Black Clawson. She then worked for the Chamber of Commerce and the Thousand Island Club.
Arlene then married Robert C. Wilson on Nov 22, 1957. The marriage ended in divorce after 22 years. Mr. Wilson died in 1986 at age 60. Arlene then worked as a manager for Sarah Coventry Jewelry for a while, until she was offered the job of Area Manager of the Diet Workshop for the North Country. She retired in 1992. Arlene was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church, where she served as a Deacon and Elder among other activities. She loved music and sang in the church choir, Morning Musicals and Northern Choral. She had a love of books and was an avid reader. She also loved animals, and had miniature poodles for several years until moving to Centennial Apartments, when she then adopted a cat from the SPCA. After the death of the cat, she adopted another cat, Maggie. They were wonderful companions in her later years.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts have been requested to the Association for the Blind, Prospect Street, Watertown, NY or the North Country Library in Watertown. Condolences and fond memories can also be shared online at www.foxandmurrayfuneralhome.com.
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