Arlene Griff worked at Diamond National Company in New York City as well as the United Nations. She later worked for the State Department in Foreign Service and lived in Arlington, Virginia. While working for the State Department, she worked overseas. Arlene Griff enjoyed travel and visiting numerous countries. Her job for the State Department allowed her to travel to several different places. While working for the State Department she traveled and worked in Mexico City, Mexico; Tel Aviv, Israel; Quito, Ecuador; Denmark and Iran. The people she worked with became family to her and she was in precarious situations during her travels. For example, she was in Tel Aviv during the Six Day war in 1967 and said that she would sit with the other employees in the candlelight and drink wine. Arlene was also in Iran just before the embassy was overtaken and she knew several of the hostages.
During her retirement, she worked at the Library of Congress and was the personal assistant for the Author Daniel J Boorstin. She became close to his family and enjoyed working for them.
Arlene Griff was a strong willed and passionate person. She was a devote Catholic and was very active in the church. She was an avid reader and loved her pets. She had two dogs which were her companions after her retirement and they were very important to her. Her dogs were like children to her and she would bring them to other dog birthday parties which her family found comical and would tease her about.
Arlene Griff had strong political beliefs and would get into heated conversations around her beliefs.
Her niece, Candace, remembers her interest in social justice and talking about the books she had read on the subject. One author whose books she had read and seen speak at a conference was Jonathan Kozul. He has written several books about the inequalities in the United States Educational System and she took an interest in his literature.
Living in the Washington DC area, Arlene Griff visited numerous art museums and historical landmarks.
Arlene Griff was a character. One funny story remembered by family members was during a family gathering at her sister, Joan's home. After dinner, all the women were working to clean the kitchen and doing the dishes. Meanwhile, Arlene was on the front deck smoking a cigar with the men.
In summary, Arlene Griff lived a long and full life. She was a person who said what she thought and was one of a kind.
Visitation will be held on Monday, July 30, 2018 at the EDWARD F. CARTER FUNERAL HOME, 41 Grand St., Croton-on-Hudson, NY from 9:30-10:30 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am following the visiting at Holy Name of Mary Church in Croton. Burial will follow at Bethel Cemetery also in Croton.
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