Arlene S. Parsons of Guilford entered The Gates of Heaven with her family by her side at Yale New Haven Hospital on Jan. 11, 2024, after a two-and-a-half-year battle with ALS. She was the beloved wife of James Parsons for 45 years, the daughter of the late Charles and Mildred Snugg, and is survived by her husband, sister Betty Eckert, and brother-in-law Fred Eckert.

In her teen years, she was an accomplished equestrian and the winner of many ribbons. Arlene graduated from Becker Junior College in Worcester, Massachusetts, with an associate’s degree. After college, she worked at NBC and Interpublic Group, along with a summer job at Northrup Grumman. Arlene moved to Stamford in 1976 and took a position at Combustion Engineering in the legal department. It was there that she met her future husband and soulmate, Jim. And after a two-year courtship, they were married and moved to Branford. Subsequent to their move to Branford, Arlene worked for several law firms in New Haven.

Her Triumph TR-4A was a car she enjoyed driving, and she loved visiting the beach in Asharoken, New York. She loved dancing, music, and good movies. She could recite all the words to all the songs she so dearly enjoyed. She also enjoyed attending the Goodspeed Opera House each year and was an enthusiastic supporter. After she and Jim bought a house on Bantam Lake in the town of Morris, water-skiing became a passion, and she enjoyed skiing on the lake and just sitting on the dock and watching nature and the sunsets. Arlene was a devoted volunteer for many years at the Community Dining Room, Sarah’s Cupboard Thrift Shop, and the Compassion Club. She enjoyed many vacations in the Caribbean and many trips in the US and Canada with close friends.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the doctors, nurses, and paramedics who cared for her in her final hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to ALS United Connecticut, 4 Oxford Road, Suite E4, Milford, CT 06460. Funeral and Interment in West Side Cemetery was private under the care of the Hawley Lincoln Memorial, Guilford.