Obituary - Remembering Arlene Phyllis Sommers

We are mourning the passing on April 4, 2017, of a beloved wife, mother and gramma. Born Arlene Silverman on Nov. 7, 1928, she was tall and slender, elegant and stylish. Arlene leaves her husband of 66 years, Bernie, whom she met when he took a ballroom dancing class that she taught. Watching them dance was stunning sight to behold.

While raising her children, Arlene was one of the few working mothers in her circle, but she would only take morning jobs so that she was waiting when her daughters, Mara and Andrea, arrived home from school. She participated in all of their extracurricular activities, including taking charge of the Girl Scout cookie sale.

During her career as a court reporter, Arlene was president of the Florida Court Reporters Association and on the board of the National Association. She and Bernie established an award for outstanding educators of court reporters.

Arlene threw amazing parties, never calling a caterer, but always cooking and decorating everything herself. Each year, she sent baskets of homemade honeycake with all of the special Passover fixings to family members all over the country.

Arlene played dress up with her granddaughters, Ariel and Mallory, and gave them their favorite pieces to take home. Mallory, Ariel, and their brother, Ian, found their love of reading in Gramma’s lap.

Arlene loved to write. Some of her stories were published in The Heritage.

During her constant battle with pain, she was selfless in her consistent friendship, work and love, bravely masking her underlying discomfort. She will be missed immensely and remembered lovingly.