Arlene Jean Vass, our beautiful wife and mom, is free at last from the grips of Alzheimer’s Disease.  She passed away on Saturday, May 27, 2023 in Greenville.

The daughter of Harley Roy & Frances Marian Zimmerman, she was born on May 11, 1950 at home in Central Lake and moved to Muskegon at a young age. She graduated from Whitehall High School in 1968 and married her prom date and soulmate, Edward Frank Vass, on February 15, 1969.  She was mom to two beautiful daughters and worked for many years as a certified respiratory therapist. She was the best Nana to three grandchildren, Chaley, Taber, and Travis. She will be remembered for her generosity, creativity, stubbornness, and for her long and courageous fight with Alzheimer’s disease.

She lived in Muskegon until 2008, when she and Ed moved to Greenville. She spent winters at her home in North Fort Myers, Florida for 25 years. She loved being at the place “where it’s always warm”. When she needed help caring for herself the past several years, her husband adapted to all the changes and did an amazing job. She moved to Golden Life AFC Home – Roy Drive in January 2023 where she received compassionate around the clock care.

She was preceded in death by her parents;  Harley & Frances Zimmerman;  an infant brother, Harley Jr, sister Karen, brother Don, sister-in-law Esther Zimmerman, brother-in-law Marvin Cook, and nephew Mark Cook.

Surviving are her loving and devoted husband, Ed Vass, two daughters, Adriane (Dr. Calvin) Ebels, and Jennifer (Aaron) Yeomans;  grandchildren Taber (Hannah) Ebels, Travis Ebels, and Chaley (Jessie) Jarrell;  a  great-granddaughter, Claire Rosemary Ebels;  honorary granddaughter, Anna Kalnins; a sister, Marian Cook;  her identical twin sister, Darlene (Jim) Champoux;  and many nieces and nephews. Our family would like to thank the staff and volunteers at Clay Street Center for providing dignified care and activities for her. We would not have gotten through this journey with her without the committed and caring staff from Spectrum Health Hospice (Paige, Gail, Alex and many others). And a special thank you to Rose and all of the staff at Golden Life AFC Home – Roy Drive for the compassionate around the clock care that has been given to her the last four months.

Per her wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to Clay Street Center in Greenville or to Spectrum Health Hospice.

To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Arlene’s online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit:  www.MichiganCremation.com  Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Christiansen’s Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Greenville, 616-754-5638.