Annie Dorothy Arfsten

Annie Dorothy Arfsten - Went to be with Our Lord on June 14, 2008 in Petaluma, CA at the age of 100. She left us peacefully in her home, with her family by her side after a short illness. Born May 16, 1908 in Alvarado, CA in the hotel her parents Johann and Maria Friedrichsen owned. They moved to the chicken ranch in Petaluma when Annie was 10. She attended Wilson School and Petaluma high School. After a 6 month trip to Germany with her parents, she attended San Jose State Teacherâ??s College in 1926. She fulfilled her student teaching at Point Reyes and her first job was at Cinnabar School in Petaluma. In 1932, when Annie married Sam, she had to leave her beloved teaching career, as married women were not hired at that time. She went back to teaching in 1951 at Wilson School, loving every minute until she retired in 1973. Annie loved to entertain, bake cookies and travel. She loved her church and was very active, teaching Sunday School, visiting shut-ins, and baking or cooking for their fund raisers. Being a member of Mayflower Circle, Church Women United, Womanâ??s Club, AAUW, Camera Club and her luncheon clubs, ABC group, Cousinâ??s Lunch and in 1974 she helped organize the Friedrichsen Family picnic, she kept herself very busy. Annie lived alone since 1963 when her dear husband Sam passed away. She leaves a daughter Dorothy and Fred Mansen of Cottonwood, CA; granddaughters, Deborah (Mark) Heald and Kimberly (Allen) Henderson, their father Ken Succetti and step-grandson Fred (Kresten) and Brad (Kathy) Mansen. She leaves a son Fredrick, who lives next door, granddaughters Carrie Lee (Vince) Malnati and Tammy (Miles) Christensen, their mother Wendy and step-father Jim Wobensmith. Annie loved children. She leaves great-grandchildren, Emma Christensen, Devin, Kasey, Heather, Andy, and Jon (Adrianne) Mansen and great-great-grandson Ty Mansen A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. at United Church of Christ, 825 Middlefield Drive, Petaluma, CA. A reception will immediately follow the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to United Church of Christ or Hospice of Petaluma. PARENT-SORENSEN MORTUARY & CREMATORY.