IN MEMORIAM: Arlene M. Woodin, 81;

Nationally Recognized Creative Baker

COOPERSTOWN – Arlene M. Woodin, a home-economics teacher nationally recognized for her creative baking, passed away Saturday morning, Oct. 10, 2015,  at Fox Nursing Home in Oneonta. She was 81.

Born on July 23, 1934, in Marseilles, Ill., Arlene Marie was the only child of  Joseph  and Lena née Veronda Viviani.  Following her graduation from Marseilles High School in 1952 she attended Illinois State Normal University where she received a B.Sc. in Education (Home Economics) in 1956.

She married Ernest Donald Woodin on Dec. 21, 1957, in their hometown of Marseilles, Illinois, and they settled in DePue where she worked as a home economics teacher. Her creative baking skills were recognized when she won a nationwide self-rising flour competition for her recipe for Lemon-Mace Crisps.

After welcoming daughter Beth and son Alan, the family moved to Cooperstown for the first time in 1964. Ernie’s career with AT&T took them back to Illinois in 1966 and later to Somerset, N.J.. In March 1972, the Woodins returned to Cooperstown where they settled on Elm Street. After their children graduated from high school, they made their home in the Town of Middlefield.

During her years in Cooperstown, Arlene was employed at various times at Ellsworth & Sill and in the library at the Bassett Hospital. While she did not return to teaching, Arlene demonstrated her love of all things related to home economics through her sewing projects, home decorating, and experimentation with new recipes.  Her family will fondly remember her as a wonderful cook and a great baker whose pies were the highlight of every holiday meal.

Arlene is survived by two children, Beth A. Torruella and her husband, Reese, of Garner, N.C., and Alan J. Woodin and his wife, Allison, of Cobleskill; three grandchildren, Connor and Logan Torruella and Erika Marie Woodin; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 57 years on Dec. 25, 2014.

Services will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family.

The family would like to thank Dr. Dalton, Dr. Hills, Dr. Lone, and the nursing staff at the Bassett Cancer Treatment Center for their dedicated care and the staff at Fox Nursing Home and at Catskill Area Hospice who welcomed Arlene and gave her a safe and caring place to spend her final months.

For those who wish to make a memorial gift in memory of Arlene, her family suggests that the following organizations be considered:  Bassett Medical Center Cancer Treatment Center, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY  13820.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home Cooperstown.  (www.cooperstownfuneralhome.com)