Anne Debronkart
Arlita was, for many years, from when we lived in Severna Park to after we "retired" to Annapolis, a friend like none other. She laughed with me - SO heartily, and SO many times - she comforted and cried with me when I suffered too-early losses of two sons; occasionally she scolded me (but always with love). We each had six kids, about whom we bragged and shared stories over the years, a flock of grandkids of whom to be proud, too, and recently a few perfect (of course!) great-grands. We also shared the corporate legacy of "Move Me, I've Been Here 4 Years Already" - Jim and Arlita with IBM, my husband and I with 3M - and both our last homes before coming to Maryland were in Minnesota! Perhaps the gods were watching us even then.
For the last few years, Arlita was plagued by a number of serious conditions which slowed her down a bit, but not nearly as much as they might have. With her unbeatably positive attitude, she refused to give up any more of her myriad regular activities than she had to, and remained more active than many of us in better health could have managed. Each time she experienced a health setback, she popped back up with her amazing spirit intact, to the point where many of her friends called her our "Energizer Bunny", who kept on going through it all.
I will miss sharing with her the occasional funny email that comes my way; I will miss the occasional lunch or Ladies' Tea at the Bistro; I will miss her at Bunco. Most of all, I will miss her wonderful laugh, and knowing she's at the other end of the phone. I wish I'd told her more often how much she meant to me.
Anne deBronkart
