After a valiant struggle with cancer and dementia, Arlene Beth Brossia passed away March 9, 2023 at the Bridge Hospice in Bowling Green. Born on January 12, 1943 to Carl and Lucile (Barnes) Conrad in Toledo, she lived her entire life in Waterville, Ohio. Following classes at Stautzenburger College, she worked several years in the office at Monumental Life Insurance being employed as Traffic Manager (material control) at American Metalcraft, a position she held until retirement.
Although faced with an array of physical challenges, Arlene lived life to the fullest. An avid NASCAR fan (go Kevin Harvick), she enjoyed going to races with family. Upon her 70th birthday her daughter surprised her with tickets to the NASCAR Experience including an adrenalin-filled ride in a Tony Stewart car. Other bucket list items checked off included attending the Bristol Night Race, snorkeling with manatees, learning to shoot black powder muzzle loaders, white water rafting on the New River and travelling with her parents to England where her father was stationed during World War II.
Above all she treasured many memories of activities and time spent with her children and grandchildren including camping and canoeing at Camp Toodik near Loudenville, Ohio and vacations to Gatlinburg. Other passions included family genealogy and decorating graves of family members in numerous cemeteries. Following the maxim of her Grandma Conrad that no child’s grave should be forgotten, she often left decorations on graves of small children that were unadorned. Whenever a friend passed away, she was always the first to bring a baked ham to the family. She was a member of Waterville’s Zion Lutheran Church and for years active in the American Legion Auxillary and Fireman’s Auxillary.
She was proceeded in death by her parents. She leaves behind her children Jeffery (Tina) Brossia and Jodi (Mike) Shaneyfelt; grandchildren Jenell (Dean) Brossia, Samantha (Ted) Brossia and Chester (Savanah) Szydlowski; brother James (Gayle) Conrad; her soulmate for the past sixteen years, Jon Fry; and countless friends.
The family wishes to thank Clemisha Wilson, Ciara Houston and Chris Reyes for their loving care at Grand Rapids Care Center as well as Dr. Jacobus and the staff at the Bridge Hospice at Wood County Hospital.
Visitation will be held on Thursday March 16, 2023 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Peinert-Dunn Funeral Home, 7220 Dutch Rd. Waterville, Ohio 43566. Her memorial service will be held on Friday March 17, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Pastor Roy Southerland will officiate. Interment will follow at Wakeman Cemetery in Waterville, Ohio.
For those who wish to show their condolences, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Waterville Fire Association: Carl Conrad Scholarship Fund or the Bridge Hospice in Bowling Green.
Given Arlene’s dedication to cemetery decorating, if you ever visit her grave perhaps you may choose to leave a single flower.
