CONSTANCE LORENE (QUINN) ARNOLD, died on Saturday, May 16, 2009, at The Towne House Health Center. "The greatest generation lost a charter member." Born Jan. 2, 1920, in Fort Wayne, she graduated from St. Peter's Commercial College and South Side High School. "Connie loved reading obituaries. She called them the Irish funny pages. As she reads down from heaven, her family hopes this one makes her smile with pride. Connie loved her family and friends, reading, and saying the rosary, not always in that order." She was a war bride, waiting prayerfully and writing faithfully for three long years to her fiancé stationed in North Africa. She cast patience aside, however, when he returned from World War II, waiting all of two days to marry the love of her life, Keith. Connie followed Keith to Purdue where he studied engineering and she started a family on the campus Quonset Huts all thanks to the G.I. Bill. "Cheerfully raising a family of her five children was her great life's work. Cooking was her passion. Cleaning house was her penance. Her compassion was never-ending. Being Irish, Connie had the gift of gab, loved the English language and especially cherished challenging conversation. Her vocabulary was immense and she was unafraid to use it. She loved new ideas even as she adhered to her older, higher standards of personal behavior." "She will be missed by all who knew her even briefly. But most of all by her dear friends and loving family." She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Keith; children, John Arnold of Indianapolis, Joseph Arnold of Fort Wayne, David (Linda) Arnold of Lake Tippicanoe, and Andrea (Ron) Herman of Fort Wayne; and brothers, Patrick (LuAnn) Quinn of Scranton, Pa. and Thomas (Elizabeth) Quinn of Fort Wayne. She was the loving grandmother of Amy (Jeff) Gaerte of Webster Lake, Sarah Arnold of Fort Wayne, Laura Arnold of Indianapolis, Jen (Dave) MacDonald, and Doug Rooks, Zach, Alex and Mark Herman, all of of Fort Wayne, and Alex and Christian Arnold of Indianapolis; and great-grandmother of Hunter and Hannah Gaerte of Webster Lake. She was preceded in death by her infant son, James Henry Arnold, in 1958. "The family wishes to thank Dr. Manny Manalo and the staff of Towne House for their devoted care." Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Mrs. Arnold's parish of 41 years, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 4910 Trier Road, with calling one hour prior. Visitation also from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at D.O. McComb & Sons Maplewood Park Funeral Home, 4017 Maplecrest Road, with a Rosary conducted at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Burial in the Catholic Cemetery, 3500 Lake Ave. Preferred memorials for Masses at St. Charles. To sign the online guestbook go to www.mccombandsons.com