Arlene Susie Cohens-Parr

Arlene was born in Hartford, CT, daughter of the late Milton J. Gaskins and Shirley (Palmer) Brown, and graduated from Hartford High School. She received her Associates Degree from Greater Hartford Community College and her Bachelor's Degree from Central Connecticut State College. Arlene began her career at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT as a Supervisor in Data Entry Operations. She and Ronald relocated to Memphis, TN in 1989, where she was employed as a Senior Technical Analyst for over 20 years with Fed-EX, retiring in 2012, due to her struggle with dementia.

Arlene was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and dear friend. Her family will fondly remember her as a kind-hearted woman with a gentle spirit and a generous nature. Arlene was always willing to help anyone in need and would give you the shirt off her back. She loved her family more than anything and her grandchildren meant the world to her. Arlene knew that the people she loved were more important than anything and she leaves a legacy of memories that she has planted in their hearts.

Arlene led by example, and education and respect were very important to her. She insisted that her sons and grandchildren always be respectful to others, as she was, regardless of origin, race, color, religion, or any other dynamic; and she was always correcting their manner and grammar. Arlene always encouraged her children and grandchildren to be independent and to be their own unique individuals. She was known to be a "sheep on the outside and a lion on the inside," as she was very gentle but very protective of her family.

Arlene was a God-fearing woman and very strong in her faith. She was a member of Union Baptist Church in Hartford and served her church community on the Junior Usher Board. Upon relocation to Memphis, she found her Tennessee church family at First Baptist Church (Lauderdale). Arlene was a pillar of strength in her church and community, but as a result of her diagnosis of dementia, she could no longer devote the time that she previously did to her church, her community, or her book club, all of which she loved tremendously.

Arlene was an excellent cook and, in her younger years, loved to create dishes for her family and friends, especially Italian cuisine, and her famous Baked Mac & Cheese. Her favorite place was the beach and she loved to swim. She enjoyed traveling back to Connecticut whenever she could to visit her family and friends and loved to spend time in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Arlene will also be remembered for her love of animals.

In addition to her husband and love of her life, Ron, who she has been with for over 40 years, she leaves her sons, Bennett "Pete" Cohens, III of Bloomfield, CT and his partner and best friend Gloria Hilton, Christopher D. Cohens and his wife Sonal of Carlsbad, CA, and Broderick Parr of Washington, DC; her grandchildren, Myles C. Cohens, Eryca A. Cohens, Kethan P. Cohens, Milan P. Cohens, Antonio Parr, and Patrick Parr; her nephew, John Baptiste, III; and a host of other relatives and dear friends.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Barbara-Jean Greene; and her nephew, Kevin Baptiste.

Her family will receive friends on Saturday, July 17, 10-11 a.m., with a 11 a.m. Celebration of Life, at First Baptist Church, 682 S Lauderdale St., Memphis, TN.

A Memorial Service will be held in Connecticut on Saturday, July 31, at Union Baptist Church in Hartford, CT and entombment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery Mausoleum, Hartford.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Arlene may be sent to The Alzheimer’s Assoc., PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011. Please note Arlene’s name and what state you would like your donation to go to; or visit act.alz.org to make an online donation.