Arlette Gisele Pedrin
April 3, 1928 - March 8, 2016
Obituary
Arlette Gisele Pedrin
April 3, 1928 – March 8, 2016
Arlette Gisele Pedrin (Cibois), 87, of SeaTac WA., passed away March 8, 2016 at her home. She was born April 3, 1928, in Le Mans, France to Edilbert Marcel Cibois and Jeanne Marie Cibois (Wind) and was the third of four daughters. She was preceded in death by her husband Eugene “Gene” Pedrin, a 20 year US Navy Veteran who passed in 2008; both her parents, and eldest sister Andree.
Arlette was twelve years old when Germany invaded France and her town eventually came under German occupation. At the age of 17, she began working for the Red Cross and became an interpreter for the American Army; in 1947 Arlette came to America as a war bride. She loved America and took great pride in later becoming a naturalized American citizen. Arlette and her husband settled in SeaTac in 1955, where she lived until her death. Arlette was a hard-working and loving mother and spent many months caring for their young children alone while her husband Gene was at sea. From a young girl, she had felt that her purpose was to be a mother; she could always be found with the youngest child or grandchild, and countless of her stories began “When you kids were small…” Arlette retired from the City of Seattle Public Library, where she had also become the shop steward for the Library Workers Union.
Arlette and her husband were passionate Husky and Seahawks fans; they were season Seahawks ticket holders and their license plate ‘SEAHOX’ was frequently seen at the SeaTac airport when they joyfully welcomed their team home – win or lose. Together they enjoyed outdoor activities: family tent camping at the ocean and later in their motor home; trips to the mountains, beaches, lakes, canoeing, and whale watching, bicycling and gardening. Arlette enjoyed drawing and canvas painting with oils and gave several of her works to family. She especially enjoyed the rain and wolves. Arlette and Gene were passionate about the environment and treatment of animals, and their backyard was a Designated Backyard Wildlife Habitat. They were devoted to their dogs and assortment of birds, and always went the extra mile to assure that their pets had the best in life they could provide.
Arlette Pedrin is survived by her daughter Arlette Davison (Michael) and sons Robert (Lisa), Patrick (Jane Gerard), and Kristopher (Teresa); nine grandchildren: granddaughters Coreen Hill (Bradley), Laura Pedrin-Johnson, Cassie Crider (Marty), Kelly DeMerritt (Trevor); grandsons Mark (Mariya), Daniel (Lisa), Benjamin, Ansel, Michael (Brittany); and fifteen great-grandchildren: Celeste, Jason, Jakob, Gavin, Hannah, Taylor, Paisley, Cameron P., Cameron J., Chloe, Tiffany, Thomas, Leanna, Grace, Claire.
The funeral service will be Thursday, March 17th at 1:15 at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St Kent WA 98042, with internment immediately following. Family and friends of family are invited to the family home following the service for refreshments and sharing remembrances.
Memorial donations may be made in Arlette’s name to one of the wildlife or animal organizations that were so meaningful to her. Suggested organizations are:
Defenders of Wildlife
1130 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036-4604
The Wilderness Society
1615 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20036,
PAWS
PO Box 1037
Lynnwood, WA 98046
I was so blessed to have such a wonderful woman as my grandma. She was a truly amazing, loving woman who will be missed tremendously. Until we meet again, Grandma.