Arlene "Sweetie" R. Howard

Arlene (Sweetie) Howard departed this life to enter eternal rest, at home, with her family by her side on Thursday, November 21, 2019.

Arlene was born on April 28, 1939 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was the only daughter of the late William and Grace Demus. She received her education in the Pittsburgh Public School District, was a graduate of Fifth Avenue High School and later received her Certification in Education from Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC).

In 1955, she wed her beloved husband James Howard. Together they built a loving family and to this union four children were born—three boys and one girl. She also raised two godchildren.

Arlene accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at a young age and was a member of Good Hope Baptist Church where she sang in the choir, worked with the children’s choir and youth fellowship. She later became a member of Shiloh Community Missionary Baptist Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Arlene worked for the Board of Education as a Para-Professional at Pioneer, Crescent, and Reizenstein Middle School where she retired in 2002.

Arlene had a keen sense of style and was a great cook, homemaker, seamstress and hair stylist. She loved family gatherings and loved to travel, attend family reunions, watch Wheel of Fortune and the Steeler Games with her best friend Mrs. Betty. She also enjoyed playing Slingo, Word Search and Candy Crush on her computerized device, and having daily prayer and bible study with her daughter. She was a kind, generous but firm mother, a loving wife, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, mother-in-law, aunt and friend and will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Arlene was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, James Howard, father, William Demus, mother, Grace Demus, grandmother, Naomi Strothers and Godmother, Martha Hardy.

Those that will forever cherish Arlene's memories include her four children: James Howard (Minnie), Elder Clifford Howard (Felicia), Geraldine Hickman (Minister Deuene) and Kevin Howard (Marjorie); Godchildren: Ericka Hardy and Mark McCrommon; Brother: William Demus (Shirley), Cousin: John T. Strothers (Adelaide); Sister-in-law: Tylene Howard; best friend of over 70 years: Betty McCrommon; Grandsons: Clifford Engram, Darnell Anderson (Almond) and Kevin Howard Jr. (Britney); Granddaughters: Twanda Engram, Tamela Twyman, and Melinda Robinson (Damiane); and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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