Arlita Ann Quinn's Obituary
Arlita Quinn was a daughter of Ireland who was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on February 9, 1932. Her father, Eugene Kenny, was a fireman on the Hartford Fire Department, and her mother, Mary, was a homemaker who managed their rental property during the Depression. The origin of Arlita's name remains obscure; but it was selected and insisted upon by her father. An old Celtic translation describes the word, "Arleta" as a baby's name that means, "an oath."
And through her life, it was an oath indeed that she took. An oath to protect and nurture her family, to be compassionate to those less fortunate, to be moral and honest, to have courage, and to be an active participant in her community. Arlita was a modern woman of the recent past. She waited for a beloved young husband to come home from war, she had babies and was a homemaker, she joined legions of other women who pursued careers, she became an independent thinker, she supported her children in their choices, she was unafraid of change, and she understood that it was a new world that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were entering.
Arlita was a part of the IBM, "I've Been Moved," generation. As she traversed the country with her husband Jim and their family, she gave her time to organizations like the Cub Scouts, Brownies, Girl Scouts, Red Hat Society, and many others. She and Jim finally settled in Maryland, and she spent 20 years working in the design department at Woodward Lothrop. Many glorious weekends were spent on the Chesapeake aboard the "Seachrani," their wonderful sailboat.
There was fatigue in her body; but her mind was sharp and her spirit was vibrant when Arlita died in Annapolis on January 24, 2018. She had been afflicted with heart ailments for several years and was with her devoted family when she passed away. She was a wonderful light in the lives of her family and friends, and the echoes of her infectious laugh will resonate with them through the years.
Arlita is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, James; six children, James, Doreen, Keith, Thomas, Kevin, and Patricia, and their spouses and partners; her brother, Alfred; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and her much-loved brother, Daniel.
Visitation and services will be held on Sunday, February 11, 2018, at 1:00, at Lasting Tributes, 814 Bestgate Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. There will be a reception following the services. Private interment will follow at a later date. To honor Arlita, the family requests that contributions be made to any organization that makes the lives of children a little bit brighter.
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