Cornelia Henrietta Arkema went to be with her Lord and Savior on August 24, 2013, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House after a lengthy illness of congestive heart failure.

Cornelia was the second of ten children born to Cornelius and Durkie (Rolffs) Van Soelen on May 3, 1927, in Sully, Iowa. She lived her entire life in the Sully area. She grew up on her parents' farm helping her mother with the younger brothers and sisters. On December 28, 1947, she was united in marriage with Bernard Arkema in Sully.

Cornelia and Bernard are faithful members of the Sully Christian Reformed Church where she enjoyed being a part of the Golden Hour and J.O.Y. Guild.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Bernard, and their children: Carroll and Mairead of Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, Dean and Gayle of Denver, Colorado, and Ken and Pat of Coralville, Iowa; her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; sisters: Marie Brandhof of Prairie City, Iowa, and Joanne (Marvin) Sjaardema of Denver, Colorado; brothers: Ralph (Bernice) Van Soelen of Newton, Iowa, Donald (Pat) Van Soelen of Council Bluffs, Iowa; brother-in-law John Hoebeke; sisters-in-law: Henrietta Van Soelen of Denver, Colorado and Millie Van Soelen of Sully, Iowa; Bernard's siblings: Betty and Earl Dykema, Alan Arkema, June Rozendaal, Hermina Rolffs, Grace (Harris) Van Kooten, Lewis (Jean) Arkema, and Edwin (Leona) Arkema.

Preceding her in death: her brothers: Peter, Henry, Clarence Van Soelen; sisters: Dorothy Arkema and Christina Hoebeke; in-laws: William Brandhof, John and Iva Arkema, Dormand and Beulah Arkema, Jr. Rozendaal, Henry Rolffs, Nelson Arkema, and Marjorie and Freeman Van Gorp.

Cornelia was a loving daughter, wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She exhibited all "the fruits of the spirit" and her relationship with Jesus Christ was the cornerstone of her life. Family was at the center of Cornelia's heart so it was with great joy that she celebrated sixty-six years of marriage, three children, five grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren. All who knew Cornelia will remember her for her sweetness, kindness, and love.

FUNERAL SERVICES

10:30 A.M., Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Sully Christian Reformed Church
Sully, Iowa

VISITATION

Beginning at Noon, Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Family present 4:00-7:00 P.M.
Sully Garden Chapel Funeral Home
Sully, Iowa

Memorials

Sully Christian Grade School
Pella Christian High School

INTERMENT

Sully Cemetery
Sully, Iowa

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