Arlene Fisher

Arlene Fisher, 82, of Lancaster, a well-known Lancaster County artist, painted herself out of the picture on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. She chose to live out her end stage just as she had lived her entire life – the way she wanted. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma and amyloidosis she chose hospice in the comfort of her own home surrounded by an ever-present stream of family and friends. Her last days were spent at the Hospice & Community Care Center, Mount Joy. Both teams provided extraordinary care for which the family was grateful. She is survived by William “Bill” Fisher, her husband of 62 years, her daughters: Ann Jungels and Mary Paton, grandchildren: William and Henry Jungels, Dylan (Claire) and Elizabeth Paton, her new great-granddaughter twins: Lydia and Abigail Paton, finally and not least by her cat, Pepper who instinctively knew to comfort her. Special thanks to her niece, Sue Ann Snodgrass who so faithfully visited weekly. Arlene was born and raised in Lancaster, the eldest daughter of William and Dorothy Wiley, and sister to James Wiley (Sylvia) of Gettysburg, Dorothy “Dot” Snodgrass (deceased) and June (Tim) Hoover of Mechanicsburg. Arlene graduated from McCaskey High School (1954) and attended Penn State’s Ogontz campus. She started her career at Lancaster Newspapers where she met Bill who was a sports editor. Arlene was first and foremost a talented, award-winning artist of Lancaster County farm scenes who exhibited at shows along the East Coast during the past 45 years. The Ocean City NJ Boardwalk Art Show named its Best of Show Award in her honor since she participated 43 years, longer than anyone else. She was past president and secretary of the Lancaster County Art Association, and a member of the Demuth Foundation, Historic Preservation Trust, Amos Herr Foundation, Lancaster Literary Guild, Lancaster Farmland Trust and Covenant United Methodist Church. Arlene was a gifted raconteur with a love for antiques, jewelry, travel, crossword puzzles and friends. Her apple pies were beyond compare. Arlene always held a fondness for the “City of Light”; she and family members visited Paris numerous times. She and Bill traveled extensively, visiting a dozen countries. She told her daughters she wanted to be remembered for her “great legs and zest for life.” She will be, for that and much more. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 11, 2019 at 10:00 a.m., followed by a life celebration at 11:00 a.m. at Historic Fred F. Groff, Inc., 234 W. Orange Street, Lancaster, PA. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to a new McCaskey High School art scholarship (note her name and address to Lancaster Education Foundation, 1020 Lehigh Avenue, Lancaster PA 17602). She lived her life like the Edith Piaf song: Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien. Try to do the same.