Obituary of Arlene Stephens Arlene (Clysdale) Stephens, a lifelong resident of Peterborough, died Thursday, December 28 at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. Arlene loved and appreciated her life and she fought a tenacious battle with cancer for several years. Born September 20, 1937, to Cora and Milton Clysdale, of Peterborough, she received a BA in English Literature from Queen’s University in 1959. While at school in Kingston she met Richard Stephens, to whom she was married for 57 years. Arlene had an original, inquiring and independent mind and over her lifetime she was deeply interested in and accomplished in many areas. She enjoyed ragtime and classical music and loved to play the piano. Arlene enjoyed games of all kinds and played bridge and scrabble with her customary enthusiasm and competitive spirit until the last weeks of her life. Flowers, gardens and flower arranging were other great enthusiasms, as were travel, art, and creating ambitious handmade items of many kinds, whether large flagstone patios and rock gardens, or tiny intricate works of art. Arlene also greatly enjoyed the pleasures of reading books and discussing ideas, interested a wide range of topics including art, history, literature, science, archeology and anthropology. Arlene was an accomplished artist who enjoyed working in a variety of media and was a keen learner from other painters. Leaving two-dimensional canvases behind, she spent several decades mastering the art of sculpting and painting portraits of cats onto polished beach stones, winning awards and finding homes for them across Canada and internationally. Throughout her lifetime Arlene cared deeply about everyone who was within her sphere. She was active in her church, in art, garden and book clubs, and was a 40 year volunteer with Meals on Wheels. Warmly affectionate to a long succession of beloved pets, Arlene deeply valued her cherished friends and her family knew that they were always of central importance in her life. Arlene is survived by her loving husband Richard, daughter Maggie, (Jan), son Dave (Loree), beloved grandchildren Diana, (Justina) William, Leah and Ted, brother Bob Clysdale (Kathy), nephews Al (Michelle) and Jamie (Karen) Clysdale, Mike Sutherland (Lisa), Rod Sutherland (Ellen), and niece Rosemary Irwin (Glenn) as well as beloved great-nieces and great-nephews Katie, Tom, Miriam, Lorna, Bridget, Marilyn, Christopher, and Hazel; pre-deceased by Abigail. The funeral will be held Tuesday January 3rd at Northminster United Church, Sunset Blvd., Peterborough at 11 am. Visitation will be held one hour prior at 10 am and the service will be followed by a luncheon in the church hall. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Arlene Stephens, please visit Tribute Store