Mariella (Weber) Arnold

Mariella Arnold, age 93, a long-time resident of Kimball, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on October 25, 2023, at the home of her daughter, Catherine Pollard, in Sandy, Utah. Mariella received visits from her seven children, her brother's children, and 23 grandchildren in the days prior to her death and comforted them with her wise and loving words.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 10, 2023, at the Church of St. Anne, Kimball, Minnesota, with Fr. Donald Wagner as Celebrant. A visitation will be held Thursday, Nov. 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Church of St. Anne, with parish prayers at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. Burial will follow the Mass at St. Anne Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Mariella's family asks that donations be made in her memory to the Kimball Area Food Shelf, Kimball Public Library, or Church of St. Anne.

Mariella Arnold was born on May 26, 1930, to Marvin O. and Katherine (Fuerst) Weber in St. Paul, Minnesota. She graduated from Forest Lake High School in 1947, and attended the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1951, after earning a BA in French and English, Mariella continued studies abroad at the Laval University in Quebec, Canada, and the University of Dijon in Dijon, France.

Mariella moved to Kimball, Minnesota, in 1953 for a job as a French and English teacher. There she met Eugene Arnold, and the couple married on August 28, 1954. Over the next 10 years, Mariella and Eugene had seven children. Mariella lived with Eugene, the love of her life, until his death in 1994. Despite caring for her parents and raising a large family, Mariella was involved and active in the Kimball community and the surrounding area. She served on numerous boards and taught religious education for 42 years. Mariella was the first female chairperson of the Kimball Area School board, the first female mayor of the City of Kimball, a recipient of the Bishop's Medal, and the WCCO Radio Good Neighbor of the Week. Mariella's life-long love of sailing and swimming prompted Eugene to purchase a cabin on Lake Sylvia in Annandale, Minnesota, in 1978. The cabin became a summer gathering place where she welcomed family and friends with good food, conversation, games, and lake activities that created fond memories and forged life-long bonds. In her later years, Mariella travelled all over the world. Her curiosity and openness to adventure, passion for reading, interest in discussing current events, and love of family and community, serve as an inspiration to her children, grandchildren, and friends.

Mariella is survived by her children, Jacqueline Arnold (Eric Rudrud), Joseph (Terry) Arnold, John (Margaret) Arnold, Paul (Brenda) Arnold, Catherine (Tom) Pollard, Stephen (Tracy) Arnold, and Peter (Sandy) Arnold; 23 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; her brother's children, Michael (Terri) Weber, Mark Weber, Mary Louise Weber (Craig Wilson); her brother's grandchildren, whom she loved like her own; and many other nieces nephews, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and her brother, Marvin O. Weber.

Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial and Cremation Services of Kimball.

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