Obituary of Arline D. Mainella

Arline D. Mainella, 92, long time resident of West Duluth, died peacefully in her sleep on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016 at her Edgewood Vista residence in Hermantown. Arline was born and raised in Duluth. After graduating from Central High School, she joined her cousins and friends in Washington DC to do clerical work for the FBI. In 1944, she returned to Duluth to marry her longtime sweetheart, Frank P. Mainella, and together they raised four daughters. She was a member of St. James Catholic Church. Arline loved children and animals. She was known as the "Candy Lady" to the neighborhood kids. She had a green thumb and could grow beautiful house plants and flowers. Strangers would walk by her house and comment on her lovely, well-kept flower gardens. She was a past-president of the West Duluth Garden Club. Arline was a great baker and kept a sparkling clean house. She swept her porch everyday, no matter the weather and loved drying her wash on the line. Arline was preceded in death by her husband, Frank; her parents; and her brothers, Norman, Kermit, and Gilman. Arline is survived by her daughters, Cindy Mainella (Kent Riley), Laurie Lalish (Jeff), Heather Mainella (Jerry Claxton), and Robin Mainella Annala (Gene); four beloved grandchildren; her special cousin and roommate, Maxine Bradford; and many other relatives and friends. The family would like to thank the staff at Edgewood Vista Assisted Living, Solvay Hospice House, and Essentia Health Hospice for their guidance and loving care of Arline. MEMORIAL SERVICE: 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, in the Edgewood Vista chapel, 4195 Westberg Road, Hermantown. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Duluth Animal Allies Humane Society.