Lorraine K. Arends

Lorraine K. Arends, age 84, of Hastings, died Saturday, February 28, 2009. Lorraine was born February 16, 1925 in St. Paul, MN to Elmer and Elizabeth (Trossen) Erickson. She graduated at the age of 16 from Harding High School in St. Paul. She was offered a scholarship to St. Mary's University in Winona, MN, but due to circumstances, had to go to work to help her family. She was a homemaker first, had worked at Montgomery Ward in Hastings and also worked as a secretary for the H Val J Rothschild Insurance Agency in St. Paul. She loved bowling, card games, dominos and crocheting. Many of her days began with sharing coffee with friends at Emily's bakery in Hastings. She was a faithful member of the Hastings VFW Auxillary.She married Earl E. Arends in January of 1945 at Blessed Sacrament Church in St. Paul. Earl died October 14, 1996.Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, 1 son Steven, 1 grandson Jamie and 2 brothers Roy and Gerald Erickson.Survivors included her children Kathleen (Thomas) Ahrens of Buffalo, MN; Lynda (Peter) Peine of Hastings; Julie (Mike) Olson of Welch, MN; Peter Arends of Morris, MN; Virginia (Tim) Downey of Silver Bay, MN; and Lois Arends of Oak Park Heights,MN; a daughter-in-law Judy Hunter of Hastings; 13 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; brothers Vernon "Smiles" Erickson of the Brainerd, MN area; and William Erickson of Roseville, MN.Visitation will be Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at the Caturia-Smidt Funeral Home from 4:00-7:00 pm, and also Wednesday at the church for 1 hour prior to the funeral mass.The Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2035 Fifteenth Street West, Hastings, MN at 10:00 am.Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemeteryat Basswood Grove, in Denmark Township.