3 Additional Information.
3.5.11 Lena Antonie Arnold
Born: 9th October 1908 Died: 5th May 1997
3.5.11 Lena Antonie Arnold
Obituary
Lena Antonie Arnold (nee Roocke) has died aged 88. Lena Antonie Arnold, fondly known as Toni was the youngest daughter of 10 children born to Friedrich and Anna Roocke nee Biar, on October 9 1908 at Neales Flat.Toni was baptised and confirmed in St Pauls Lutheran Church at Brownlow by Pastor P Breier. She attended Brownlow Public School and after leaving school worked on the farm assisting her aged parents until her bothers married. While working as a domestic at Tippera York Peninsula she met Harold Arnold and their married on March 28 1932 at Stonefield.
The first 10 years of married life was spent farming at Sandilands, York Peninsula. In 1942 Toni and Harold moved to Taplin with their young family were Harold found employment with SA Railways. In the following six years Toni and her family moved as a result of employment transfers, to Cookes Plains, Wirregar and finally Tailem Bend in 1948 where they remained until Harold’s retirement in 1973. For the next 20 years they resided in Murray Bridge.
In 1992 Toni and Harold returned to their grass roots moving to an independent unit at Barossa Valley Nursing Home in Nuriootpa. During these years they were reunited with many old friends and family from earlier days. In 1982 Toni and Harold celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at Murray Bridge and in 1992 they were fortunate to celebrate their diamond wedding at Eudunda with family and friends.
Toni and Harold’s marriage was blessed with seven children, Eunice, Kevin, Fay, Leon, Trevor, June and Roy. Toni was the proud grandmother of 18, great grandmother of 36 and great great grandmother of two children.
Toni’s belief in God sustained her through many ears of tragedies in her life. In 1955 her son Leon passed away as a result of an accident. She was to lose another two sons, Kevin and Trevor in later years. On March 27, 1995, her husband Harold passed away one day before their 63rd wedding anniversary.
Toni was an accomplished seamstress and loved knitting and crochet work. During the 1950’s Toni and Harold acted as interpreters for Baltic Migrants. It was also during their time at Tailem Bend that Toni became second mum to many of the local postal workers who boarded in her home.
Toni was a strict but loving mother and grandmother. Many of their grandchildren regularly spent holidays at her home in Tailem Bend where they were always well fed (despite her not being fond of cooking) and well loved. She loved nothing better than spending time with family and friends and at partied she would ne one of the last to leave.
She treasured her friendships and many were to remain constant throughout her life. Toni had a marvellous sense of humour, wonderful smile and contagious laugh.
Ref ‘Herald’ May 21st 1992
