Arlene Louise (Gandolf) Mohrlein

Arlene (Gandolf) Mohrlein, 78, of Colchester, widow of the late John G. Mohrlein, Sr.; mother of Arlene "Tootsie" (Jacqueline Rowell), John, Jr. (Theresa), Cheryl (Paul) and Wayne; grandmother of Jennifer (Eno), Dana, John, III (Fillip) and Taylor; great grandmother of Adriana; sister of Roger (Lyn), Hillary (Andras) and Craig (Steven); sister-in-law of Helen (Bob) Russo and Anna (and the late John) Dill, as well as aunt and cousin to many and "second mother" to many devoted farm hands that became like family, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 surrounded by her loving family.  Born May 28, 1940 in New York City, she was raised in Flushing, LI, NY, she was the daughter of the late Albert and Louisa (Hofsaes) Gandolf. She was a 1958 graduate of Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset, LI, NY.  While on her class trip in Washington, DC in 1956, she met her future husband, John at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, as he was on his senior class trip from Bacon Academy in Colchester. Over the next two years, she would leave the city to weekend with he and his family on the modest farm on Route 16.  At six feet tall, she was "fashion forward" with looks that paralleled (and perhaps exceeded those of Elizabeth Taylor), she modeled for Barbazon in New York City for a time. Their relationship blossomed and the two were married at her parish church, St. Luke's in Whitestone, Queens on Dec. 20, 1958.  They settled in Colchester and shortly thereafter together assumed the family farm, making it in to a successful dairy operation for the next 25+ years.  In early years, both she and John were volunteers with the Colchester-Hayward Vol. Fire Co.  After selling the milk herd in late 1985, through farm connections, she was welcomed in to the "family" at the Colchester Veterinary Hospital - swiftly climbing her way to a supervisory position - as well as being the iconic voice affectionately known as "R" at the practice on the phone for the next 26 years. After tragically suffering a stroke in late 2010, her true colors, strength and conviction perhaps rang through the strongest as she valiantly rehabiliated at Mount Sinai Hospital in Hartford to ultimately "refill" her seat at CVH before a well earned retirement later that next year.  After retiring, she was active with the Colchester Senior Center and continued her wonderful phone skills, played Pokeno and contributed to their holiday fundraisers. Besides her incredible dedication to both work and family, over the years, she cultivated and tended to beautiful gardens on the farm and studied to be a proficient cake decorator, crafter and painter in her spare time.  Additionally, she simply reveled in her visits to her mecca, otherwise known as the Christmas Tree Shop.  Arlene was a truly beautiful lady, both inside and out, cherished by both family and friends alike. Services were observed last week with visitation on Sunday (Oct. 14th) and a Chapel Service on Monday (Oct. 15th) at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Rd., Colchester.  She was laid to rest next to her husband in the family plot at the New St. Andrew Cemetery, opposite the family farm. The family would like to extend their most sincere gratitude to the numerous doctors, nurses, therapists and auxiliary staff at both Mt. Sinai Rehabiliation Hospital in Hartford and Middlesex Hospital in Middletown.  Only with their loving care, concern and talents (alongside family and friends), was her life in later years able to be as fruitful and independent as they were, especially over the past year and her final hospitalization.  In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Colchester-Hayward Vol. Fire Co. Auxiliary, 18-54 Old Hartford Rd., Colchester 06415.  To share a condolence with the family, please visitwww.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com

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