Arlene Theresa Hayes Youmans, 81

April 26, 1941 - September 20, 2022

Arlene Theresa Hayes Youmans, 81, of Lititz, died peacefully on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at Wellspan Ephrata Hospital with family by her side. Born in Jersey City, NJ, she was the daughter of the late James “Kinty” and Theresa (Dougherty) Hayes and was raised in Bayonne among many aunts, uncles, and cousins who lived nearby. In Arlene’s later years, the memories of those family gatherings brought her great joy.

Arlene was a proud graduate of Holy Family Academy in Bayonne, where she loved to sing and act in the school and church plays. She held several jobs over her lifetime and excelled at them all. She was a secretary, a stay-at-home mother, and later retired as a Program Analyst for the U.S. Government at Ft. Monmouth, NJ. She would say that her greatest accomplishment, however, was raising her family. Faith and family were the hallmarks of Arlene’s life.
Arlene’s hobbies were crossword puzzles and writing, and she spent many hours composing songs, poems, letters, and notes. She loved making people happy through her cooking, her wit, her smile, and her hugs.

Arlene was an active member of St. James Catholic Church since moving to Lititz in 2003, attending Alpha and bible study.

Arlene is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth “Betty Jean” Schultz and her husband Joe of Lititz, and her son John Jeffrey Youmans of Manasquan, NJ. Also surviving are her beloved grandchildren, Jeff, John & Matt Youmans, Kelly (Schultz) Campbell and her husband Tim, and Colin Schultz; her brother Bob Hayes and his wife Peggy of Reno, NV; nephews, niece, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her son Matthew Youmans in 2015, and her sister, Judie Barrett (wife of Don Barrett) in 2020.

The family would like to express our gratitude for the loving care mom received from the staff at Keystone Villa in Ephrata in both personal care and memory support these past 18 months. In her last days, the Ephrata hospital staff, Connie from the Alzheimer’s and Memory Clinic at LGH, and Hospice and Community Care helped her and us through. We are deeply grateful.

A viewing will take place from 5 to 7 PM on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, and again from 9:30 to 10:30 AM on Thursday, September 29, 2022. at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA, 17543. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Thursday, September 29, 2022, at St. James Catholic Church, 505 Woodcrest Avenue, Lititz, PA 17543, with Father Ryan M. Fischer as Celebrant. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Arlene’s memory may be made to the Alina Lodge Scholarship Fund and the Matt Youmans PMP Warrior Golf Tournament for SOMBFAB.