Arlene Miele

Arlene Miele, of Nashua, New Hampshire, passed away on January 29, 2025. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend who touched the lives of many with her kindness and unwavering love. For 62 wonderful years, she was married to the love of her life, Anthony. They were constant companions, partners in every sense of the word, and rarely apart. Through every joy and challenge, they stood side by side, building a life filled with love, luck, and laughter. Her love for her daughter, April, was boundless. She didn’t just teach April to be fierce or to fight for what she wanted; she showed her every day by the way she lived. Watching her mother, April learned that ceilings weren’t made of glass—they were made to be shattered. But nothing brought Arlene more happiness than becoming a grandmother. From the moment she knew Rachel and James were on the way, they became the center of her world. She poured her love into them just as she had with everyone she held dear. For Arlene, family was never just about blood. When Dan Mansur moved into their home for "a year," none of them knew it would turn into a decade. Though not legally adopted, he became like a son to Arlene and Anthony in every way that mattered, and she cherished him as such. That love extended to his wife, Tarina, whom Arlene embraced as a daughter-in-law and part of the family with the same warmth and devotion. She is also survived by her sister, Fay, with whom she shared a lifetime of memories and a connection that only sisters truly know. Beyond her immediate family, Arlene was deeply cherished by many nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly. She will be remembered for her warm but strong spirit and the love she extended to all who knew her. Her door was always open, whether she was related to you or not. So many people found comfort, laughter, and belonging within her home because of her generous heart. That same generosity extended beyond her home and into her community. Arlene was a longtime, active member of the Altrusa Club, dedicating herself to service throughout her life. In recent years, she led an annual sock drive for veterans and the homeless, collecting thousands of socks to help those in need. A graduate of Lowell High, Arlene worked as a bookkeeper for many years at George R. Vinal, Inc. Later, she served as the Executive Director of the Battles Home in Lowell, MA, where she cared deeply for the residents. Even while working full-time, her entrepreneurial spirit led her to open Auntie’s Attic, a thrift shop in Lowell, MA—creating a space that reflected her love for community, connection, and second chances. A celebration of Arlene’s life will be held at a later date. She will be laid to rest at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, NH, honoring her lifelong devotion to her family and her role as the beloved wife of a veteran. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Altrusa International of Merrimack Valley, PO Box 622, Tyngsborough, MA 01829.