Arlene was born January 7, 1933, in Rainy River, Ontario, to Maurits Everett Carlson and Edla Augusta (Larson) Carlson. She lived in Minnahico and Bergland, Ontario, until the age of 15 years when her father passed away and the family relocated to Fort Frances, Ontario, where she has lived since. She attended grades one through eight in Bergland and then went to high school in Fort Frances.
Following high school she began work in the office of La Verendrye Hospital and at the age of nineteen moved to Toronto where she started employment at the Toronto Dominion Bank for the next year and a half and then transferred back to Fort Frances with the bank where she worked until 1956. She married William John Lamb on February 3, 1956, and he remained her dear husband for the next 55 years until he passed away on May 28, 2011.
Arlene’s greatest pleasure was in the raising of her four children and spending time with her six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Her happiest times were when surrounded by family, relatives and friends. She was very fond of traveling, camping, fishing or going on family vacations and enjoying the great outdoors. Socializing around the evening campfire was her favourite part of the day and brought back many fond memories. Arlene liked to read, knit, crochet, work jigsaw puzzles and she loved playing cards, especially canasta. Her Shevlin Towers friends were very much appreciated by her after Bill’s passing, whether it was going for coffee, ice cream or a meal or playing many, many games of cards, or just going for a drive to see the beautiful colours of the trees in the fall.
Arlene is survived by her son William John (Tammy) and daughters Sharlene (John), Shelley, Kari (Larry); six grandchildren Christina (Steve), Timothy (Vanessa), Scott (Rozeel), Jeffery and Joshua; five great-grandchildren Chloe, Paxton, Gavin, Kingston and Siya; many nieces and nephews; sister-in law Maxine; and cousins by the dozens.
Arlene was predeceased by her husband William John Lamb; father Maurits; mother Edla; brother Kenneth and sister in-law Shirley Carlson; grandparents Swan and Maria Carlson, John and Anna Larson; sister in-law Laurabelle and brother in-law Allan Hampshire; sister in-law Alice and brother in-law Don Gilbert; brother-in-law James Lamb; and granddaughter Ashley Shine.
In memoriam donations may be made to La Verendrye Hospital, Fort Frances, Canadian Diabetic Association, Heart and Stroke foundation or a charity of your choice.
A private family service will be held at Northridge Funeral Home, Emo, Ont.
Arrangements in care of Northridge Funeral Home Ltd.
