As Arlene's family reflects back on her life, it is felt she has lived her life more as a story as she treasured life's experiences and challenges with her faith . Arlene was the 6th child of 12 siblings (7 brothers/5 sisters) to John and Anna Maras of Windom. The talents she learned while growing up would become Arlene's biggest attributes throughout life. Arlene attended school at one of Dale Township's country schools and graduated from Windom High School in 1950. Arlene married Leo November 29, 1952 and they became parents to 3 daughters Patricia, Janel and Monica. She enjoyed farm life as a wife and mother, helping to milk cows with Leo, raising chickens for food, using her amazing green thumb in her bountiful garden providing fresh food for her family and Arlene was always busy participating in church activities, serving as funeral meal coordinator for the past 40 years, just retiring in February of this year. In 1967 Arlene took on the role of first serving as a fill-in postmaster at the post office in Delft, then later became head postmaster in Delft until its closing, and then became head postmaster at the Bingham Lake post office until retiring in 1992. Arlene loved her family and became a devoted grandmother to 4 wonderful granddaughters, Christy, Mindy, Bridgette, and Andrea. She was always willing to teach them about baking, canning, cooking, and other lifelong skills as they were growing up. She was proud to see each of them become a wife and mother to her 4, almost 5, great grandchildren, Lily, Avery, Alex and Madelyn. Arlene loved having the grandkids at her house to spoil them some more. She knew how much fun they had during their stay by the mess they'd leave behind, and she loved it! Arlene was a sports fanatic and loved watching/listening to Windom Eagle sports events as a spectator or listening on the radio. She also loved watching the MN Twins and Vikings on TV. She didn't care about a winning season, it was the sport of the game she loved…us kids could never understand how she could listen to a Twins game on the radio and watch the Vikings on TV and never miss a play from either game! Arlene's favorite pastimes included her family, grandkids, time with friends, gardening, sporting events, cooking and baking, which she was the best at making chicken and rice. A recipe was generally in her way, so she would just use a pinch of this and a dab of that and her food always turned out so delicious. Arlene was diagnosed with her first diagnosis of colon cancer in November 1998. Through her strength and never ending faith , she was cancer free following her treatment plan. At the 2005 Relay for Life event in Windom, Arlene was designated as an honorary chairperson. In 2013 Arlene was diagnosed with breast cancer, was successfully treated once again, and was cancer free. Earlier this year it was discovered Arlene's colon cancer had returned. Surgery was performed mid-June with medical complications developing shortly after surgery, which led to her passing away on August 26th at Ava's House in Sioux Falls, SD. Arlene is survived by her husband Leo, children Pat, Janel, and Monica, 4 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, 3 sisters Helen Haugen, Rose Schwalbach, Kathy Grothaus, and 2 brothers, Paul Maras and Ed Maras. She was a special aunt to many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her son-in-law Jim Wensauer, parents, and siblings Ray Maras, John Maras, Isadore Maras, Gladys Wiens, Dan Maras, and Joe Maras. "Your family misses you greatly, Mom."