Obituary of Hope Coe Arner

Hope Coe Arner drifted gently away on Thursday April 3, 2008. As she wished, she was at home in Poughkeepsie with her family by her side as she drew her last breath. She was 84. Hope is survived by her daughter Judi Brown (Hartsdale NY); her son David Arner and daughter-in-law Jeanne Englert (Port Ewen); and her grandson Zac Brown (San Diego). She will be mourned by a wide circle of friends and family whose lives were enriched by knowing her. Hope was a teacher, a writer and an avid birder. She was a member of the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club from 1984 to 2007. She was an enthusiastic participant in Marist's Center for Lifetime Studies from its inception. She was a docent at the FDR National Historic Site, and an active member of Walkway Across the Hudson from 1991 to 2004. Her zest for life made her vivacious, unpredictable and fun. On one day she was chasing down a rare bird in Alaska or Texas. Another she was taking every course and reading every book she could get her hands on. She was a fierce fighter for causes about which she felt passionate, especially civil and human rights. During the Vietnam War she was an antiwar draft counselor. Most recently she was serving on the Governor's Long Term Care Council. Hope Coe Arner was born August 6, 1923 in Brooklyn, NY to RumanianUkrainian Jewish immigrants. She survived polio in 1928, became active in her high school student government, and attended Brooklyn College until she left to support the war effort. She worked as a mechanical inspector for the Navy and then volunteered for the Citizen Defense Corps in 1943. As the World War was ending Hope Coe married Milton Arner, her lifelong companion who succumbed to Alzheimer's Disease in 1999. As a young mother in Bayside, Queens she was a leader for many years in Parent-Teacher Associations and in the Girl Scouts. As her children grew she returned to Brooklyn College and received a Masters in education. From 1965 to 1970 she taught in a Harlem elementary school, bringing all of her students reading up to grade level, to the amazement of her colleagues. In 1968 Hope and Milt moved to their dream home in Stamford, Connecticut. There Hope worked as a Behavioral Specialist from 1973 to 1984, working with pre-school children with Downs Syndrome. After moving to Fishkill in 1984 she wrote a book for parents of special needs children, explaining how to teach basic skills through music. Her interests, generosity of spirit and dry humor stayed with her to the end. There will be a memorial service for Hope Coe Arner Saturday, May 10th at 2pm at the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, Inc., 371 Hooker Ave., in Poughkeepsie. A reception will follow at 4:30pm at Executive Towers, 160 Academy Street in Poughkeepsie. Donations can be made to Hospice in memory of Hope Arner, at 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie. The extraordinary support and assistance that Hope received from Hospice staff and volunteers for the last month of her life cannot be overstated.