Arlene Nydell Villelli

The Good Grief area lost one of it’s summer residence recently as Arlene Nydell Villelli passes away  in the early morning hours of Aug. 28, 2009, surrounded by many of her children and grandchildren. Mrs. Villelli, born in October 1918, was 90 years old. Her husband, La Habra business leader Anthony “Tony” Villelli died in August 2008 and Arlene lived in Spokane, Wash., since that time.

Arlene was born in St. Paul, Minn. The Villellis moved there from La Habra in 1946, and not long after Tony and Arlen bought and teamed up to run an Italian restaurant (where the family business, Villelli Enterprises, is still in operation). At that time, the couple had three small children. Arlene divided her time between devotedly caring for her kids, serving long hours as the waitress, and helping her husband with cooking.

Each morning before her children awoke it was her job to make 12 pies to serve to the day’s hungry customers.

In that time, Tony began his own real estate brokerage, while Arlene continued to be super mom, cook and housewife to her growing family.

Arlene and Tony bought a home on the Moyie River that served as their summer residence from 1979 until 2006.

A much beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Arlene leaves behind fiveof her six children: Sandi Villelli Baltes of Brea, Richard Villelli of Bonners Ferry Idaho, Judy Villelli Deierling of Redondo Beach, Linda Villelli Kolcum of Spokane and Donna Villelli La Plante, Spokane. Her son, Tom, who also resided in North Idaho, passed away in 2007.

As part of her legacy, Arlene also leaves behind 23 grandchildren, and was the great-grandmother of 31.

Funeral services will be held near her home in La Habra, Calif.