Arlene Joyce Moody

Arlene was born on September 6, 1934 to Florence (Stobar) and Gordon Fischer of Michigan. An only child, she grew up on Detroit’s east side and summered at the family cottage in New Baltimore, Michigan. There she met her future husband Lou when she was only 15 years old.

After graduating from Denby High School and University of Detroit Mercy, Arlene worked as the Director of the Children’s Program at The Old Club on Harsen’s Island. She wed Louis Vella in October 1959, and started teaching in the public school system until daughter Lynne was born. When Lynne entered school, Arlene taught 3rd grade at Kingsbury School where she remained for over 25 years.

Several years after Lou’s untimely death, Arlene found love again and married Theodore (Ted) Paulnock. They enjoyed bowling, golf and entertaining friends. After Arlene retired, they spent the winter months in Florida.

Ted passed away suddenly in 2001 and Arlene moved in with her daughter and son-in-law to help care for her first grandson. Shortly after, she met Matthew (Matt) Moody and they married in 2004. Matt and Arlene enjoyed spending most of the year in Florida actively involved in golf leagues and bridge groups. They often spent time with friends or seeing Matt’s family. They looked forward to summers in Algonac with grandkids and Michigan friends too. One of Arlene’s favorite memories was a cross country trip she and Matt took which allowed her to see places she had never seen before. Later she was greatly comforted by the tender care given to her by her doting husband as she battled Alzheimer’s Disease. Arlene was a devout Catholic who is now residing in the hands of the Lord.

Arlene is survived by her loving husband, Matt Moody, her daughter and son-in-law, Lynne and John Pagel, and adored grandsons, Brendan and Darren. She is also survived by numerous sisters and brothers-in law, and the extended Vella, Paulnock, and Moody families.

There will be a Michigan memorial mass at St. Mary of the Hills in Rochester Hills on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:00 AM, followed by a funeral mass at Saint Catherine of Sienna in Largo, Florida on Monday, July 31 at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Alzheimer's Association, St. Jude, or to Kingsbury Country School in Oxford, Michigan.