Born in Grey Eagle, Minnesota, to Joseph and Mary (Walker) Donat, Arlene married Joseph Kudak of Northeast Minneapolis and worked as a health care technician in Minneapolis. She spent significant chapters of her life in both Bemidji and Columbia Heights/Northeast Minneapolis - two places that became home to her.
A longtime parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church in Columbia Heights, Arlene attended Mass regularly and found quiet joy in the simple routines of community life, including her weekly coffee outings at the local McDonald’s. She had a lifelong love of animals and was adored in return by many dogs, cats, and horses over the years. Always ready for a good laugh, she enjoyed playing cards and staying busy with the people and activities that brought her happiness. She could always be found helping host family get-togethers or lending a hand wherever she was needed.
Arlene was a loving wife, devoted mother, and the greatest grandmother to ever walk the earth - a steady source of kindness, can-do spirit, and humor to all who were fortunate enough to know her. She will be dearly missed and remembered fondly.
Preceded in death by her husband Joseph; her parents; daughter Jeanette; sons-in-law Charlie and Brent; siblings Buster, Dale, Sam, Daryl, Eugene, Donald, Beatrice, and Lila Jean; and grandchildren Judy, Cathy, and Tim.
She is survived by her daughters Phyllis (Bob) Eibensteiner and Pat Hadrava; 8 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Immaculate Conception Church, Columbia Heights, Minnesota. Visitation will begin one hour prior, at 10:00 a.m., at the church. Burial will follow at Sunset Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at 1:30 p.m.
