Obituary for Arlene T. Furlano

She was born in Esofea on December 10, 1934, to Henry and Tillie (Nerison) Helgeson. The youngest of 10 children, she graduated from Stoddard School in 1948 and from WWTC in 1950. Arla worked in La Crosse as a nanny until 1954, when she married Frex Furlano, a farm boy from Genoa, at St. Charles Catholic Church.

Arla was the greatest wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, cook, baker, quilter, and true friend you will ever see.

She preached the Gospel every day without using words.

Survivors include her three children, Jeanne (Steve) Mueller, Jerry (Toni) Furlano, and Janice (John) Topp; daughter-in-law, Lori Furlano; grandchildren, Sarah (Dan) Fulop-Furlano, Rebecca (Geoff Kobayashi) Furlano, Ryan (Nicki) Mueller, Linzi (Mike) Washtock, Nick Furlano, Gina (Jacob Podkaminer) Furlano, and Maria, Jackson, and Maddi Topp; great-grandchildren, Marek, Mila, Nika, Hudson, Harvey, Ava, Miles, Leon, and Luke; sister, Anna Pedretti; in-laws, Greg Furlano, Marie Deja, and Joe (Avis) Furlano; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Arla was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Frank; her husband, Frex; and her siblings.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, November 8, 2024, at St. Charles Catholic Church in Genoa. Burial will follow in the Stoddard Village Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m., until 10:45 a.m., when a eulogy will be delivered prior to the Mass.

Arlene did not wish to have flowers given for her funeral; she asked memorials be given to St. Charles Catholic Church.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Creamery Creek Assisted Living and Gundersen Hospice for the compassionate and loving care given to our beloved Arla.

Online condolences may be offered on this site.