Mary Arriola remembered for kindness

By REVIS BLAYLOCK

NEA Town Courier

The people of Blytheville lost a true friend with the passing of Mary Arriola. Never looking for praise for herself, she was there for the children, adults, even the animals as she cooked for fundraisers, never neglected to support the youth and truly fed the multitudes through her adult life.

Joyce Emerson King has known Mrs. Arriola since 1973 and said she will be missed.

“Most everyone in Blytheville knew Mary and at one time or another, or in one way or another she touched their lives,” Mrs. King said.  “She has been a servant to the community. She has helped the elderly, sat up with babies, and cooked for hundreds of fundraisers. She was always there to help.

She has long been a strong supporter of the Humane Society cooking for fundraisers.

She was a big supporter of St. Jude Children’s Hospital; her grandchild was a patient there. She has encouraged her children and her grandchildren to get involved and try to make a difference, leading by example.

“I can’t tell you how much she has done for so many people,” Mrs. King added. “She deserves to be honored. There are not many people like Mary. Even this Christmas she was serving at the Main Street open house. She made a difference in the lives of the young people she came in contact with through the years. She touched lives in a positive way. She deserved headlines. There is no way to know how much Italian Spaghetti, chili, enchiladas, or how many fundraisers she has participated in. She loved people and she loved helping expecting nothing in return.”

One of her children, Michael, said his mother was a supporter of children. She was very active in the Humane Society over the last years.

Never wanting to take credit, she donated her time and cooking talents for school fundraisers as well as community needs.

She never turned down giving to the children who were raising money to go to a sports event or other needs.

“People tell me she never said no,” Michael said. “If we had more people like my mother, this world would be a better place. We have received calls from all over from people whose lives she has touched. Not just our family, but the community is broken-hearted and will miss her.”

There is a saying,  ‘When we leave this earth, we will only take what we have given away.” Mary Arriola has taken a lot with her and left behind an example for her family and friends to follow.