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Visitation

Saturday, January 18, 2014
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EST
St. Mary's of the Woods Catholic Church
0438 County Rd. 612
Kalkaska, MI 49646
(231) 258-2752
Web Site

Service

Saturday, January 18, 2014
11:00 AM to 12:15 PM EST
St. Mary's of the Woods Catholic Church
0438 County Rd. 612
Kalkaska, MI 49646
(231) 258-2752
Web Site

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

In lieu of flowers to: Father Fred Foundation
P.O. Box 2260
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 947-2055
Web Site

In Lieu of flowers to: St. Mary of the Woods Catholic Church
438 County Road 612
Kalkaska, MI 49646
(231) 258-2752
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Blossom Shop
1023 E. Eighth St.
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 932-9470
Driving Directions
Web Site

Cherryland Floral
1208 S. Garfield
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 941-5761
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Arlene Luella Belanger, of Williamsburg, went home to God on Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, at the age of 84.

Arlene was born on July 21, 1929, in Custer Township, Mancelona, the daughter of Oney and Freida Lanning. At a very early age she developed a passion for music. Besides playing many instruments, she would sing and dance, accompanied by her brothers and sisters.

In 1951 she married Donald R. Belanger after a long courtship. With the birth of their children it wasn’t long until the family had increased to six. Her love of music carried over to her family life as it did in childhood, and she in turn passed that talent on to her children.

Then, after nearly 20 years, Arlene returned to work as an aide at Grand Traverse County Medical Care Facility, a facility where she would later spend 25 years as a volunteer, singing to the patients and playing her guitar. As years went by her music even spread to the Senior Center in Kalkaska, where she became a “regular.” Our family is assured that whenever they sing “Angels We Have Heard on High,” they are singing about Arlene.

She will be greatly missed and long remembered by her surviving children, Dan Belanger, Lorrie (David) Grof and Jeff (Amy) Belanger; five grandchildren, Luke and Emily Grof, Rueben, Amos and Joe Belanger; as well as her loving and faithful companion to the end, Don Maylone; and her longtime family friends and caregivers, Beatrice Bates and Peggy Quast.

Besides her husband, Arlene was preceded in death by her son, Joe; brothers, Ward Lanning, Lyle Lanning and Wayne Lanning; and sisters, Dana Burmester, Leota Spitza, Hazel Hansen, Ethel Rewald and Joyce Long.

We are grateful to the many helpful and compassionate friends, church family and medical staff who assisted Arlene during her last days. The family would especially like to thank Dr. Sarah Roth, her assistant, Deb Moore, Arlene’s home health care nurse, Cathy Swanson, and Father Norm Dixon for their guidance and love in mom’s journey “home.”

A memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, at St. Mary of the Woods Catholic Church, 0438 County Road 612, Kalkaska, MI, with the Rev. Fr. Norman Dickson serving as celebrant. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the memorial Mass.

Cremation has taken place. Burial will be held in the spring at St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery in Mancelona.

Memorials may be directed to the Father Fred Foundation, PO Box 2260, Traverse City, MI 49685; St. Mary of the Woods, 0438 County Road 612, Kalkaska, MI 49646; or Kalkaska Commission on Aging, 303 S. Coral St., Kalkaska, MI 49646.

Please visit Arlene’s webpage at www.lifestorynet.com to sign the guestbook and share a message with her family.

Life Story Funeral Home, Traverse City, handled the services.