January 19, 2025
In loving memory ~
Arlene Judy Polnik [nee Polnik] was born on March 22 1955 and died at Vernon Hospice House on January 19 2025. Arlene had very aggressive brain cancer [glioblastoma] that was thankfully without pain.
Arlene is survived by husband Al, daughter Laura [Lola], son Shawn, Daughter-in-law Maeve, and incredibly cute grandchildren Mairead, and Casper. Arlene was predeceased by her father [John] in September and mother [Irma] in October 2024. It was a tough 3 months.
Arlene graduated as a social worker in Calgary. She loved working with kids helping them out of stressful situations. She directed her charitable donations to educating girls and young women oversees. She believed that educating girls educates the world.
Travel was one of Arlene's passions, having visited over 50 countries in her life. Whether it was running from bandits [escaping by throwing money on the ground] in Guatemala, reading Don Quixote on the night train in Spain the night Franco died, swimming with hammer heads in the Galapagos, or seeing a rare Speckled Bear at Machu Picchu she lived life to the fullest. She would want to pass on a great travel option for seniors is a bike and barge. Despite having two artificial hips and on the wait list for a knee, she found using an electric bike very easy, including getting lost a few times. On a bike you really get a sense of the people and the geography of a place in addition to finding a winery or three.
Arlene was a founding member of the Dogopogo dog agility club of the North Okanagan [https://dogopogoclub.wixsite.com/dogopogo]. In this sport she went to two Canadian championships placing third and fourth in her category. She had poodles Shadow, Sunny, Copper Penny, Razz-ma-taz, Black Jax, Sparks, Zeek and Chocolate Chip.
Arlene did not golf.
Arlene loved life and this came to the fore in her final months. She made it her personal goal to make as many people laugh as possible. Arlene made nurses, ambulance drivers, care aids, family, neurosurgeons, RCMP officers, friends, other patients and even perfect strangers laugh.
There will be a celebration of life for Arlene this spring. Dogs will be very welcomed. If you are interested, e-mail Al at alcarlenep@gmail.com. Details to follow.
In lieu of flowers please donate money or time to the Vernon Hospice House.