Edith Arlene Honeck

Edith Arlene Honeck, daughter of the late Chester and Anna Weston, dearly beloved mother, grandmother, known as Aunt Arlene to many nieces and nephews, and wonderful neighbor, passed in her sleep at home on Feb. 23, 2023 at age 92.

She was born nearly two months prematurely on July 21, 1930 at her family’s Concord, MI farmhouse during the Great Depression, an era without NICUs, yet thrived despite her low birth weight through the loving care of her devoted parents, doting aunties, uncles, and grandparents. Going by her middle name, Arlene, to minimize confusion with her similarly named cousin, Edith Irene, Arlene grew up on the farm along with her younger siblings, Alice and Ed, helping raise and show prize winning Clydesdale horses. Naturally left handed, Arlene wasn't pressured as a child to switch to right handedness like some of her left handed contemporaries. This was athletically advantageous when she went on to excel as an ace left handed softball pitcher known for striking out many batters in high school. She graduated from Concord High School as valedictorian in 1949, earning a DAR scholarship to attend Michigan State University, where she studied home economics. She held several jobs after college, including at the dry cleaners in her hometown, and a clothing boutique in Coldwater, MI.

She met the love of her life, Edward Honeck, in Concord according to family lore when he either patronized the dry cleaners where she worked, or she visited the Concord tavern he operated with his sister, Rita, and brother-in-law, Felix. They liked to keep us guessing without confirming definitively which business was where they first met! Arlene and Edward shared a love of the great outdoors, especially fishing. They married in 1966, honeymooning via road trip out west to Yellowstone National Park before taking up residence in Ann Arbor, where Arlene became a homemaker, devoted mother to their daughter, Jean, and fiercely loyal Michigan Wolverines fan. She and Edward especially enjoyed tending and sharing crops from their large vegetable and raspberry garden throughout their 45 years of marriage. Arlene also enthusiastically rooted for Michigan State, as long as MSU wasn't playing Michigan, of course, and was a lifelong fan of the Detroit Tigers. She was lukewarm about the seemingly perpetually struggling Detroit Lions.

Arlene was preceded in death by her husband, Edward, in 2012, and all ten of his siblings; her parents; her sister and brother, Alice and Ed; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is survived by her daughter, Jean; son-in-law, Jared Groth; grandchildren, Jillian and Jocelyn Groth; adored “grandcat” Kramer; many nieces and nephews, and incredibly caring neighbors.

A visitation for Edith will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM at St Thomas The Apostle Catholic Church, 530 Elizabeth St, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104, followed by a funeral mass at 11:00 AM.

In honor of Arlene’s wishes, upon cremation her ashes will be buried privately alongside her husband’s at Washtenong Cemetery on Whitmore Lake Road. Please consider making a donation in Arlene’s honor to the Humane Society of Huron Valley, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, or to the charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.muehligannarbor.com for the Honeck family.