Arlene H. Schwartz

Arlene Hawkins Schwartz was born and raised in the small town of Lathrop, Missouri, one of eleven children born to John and Gertrude Hawkins.

After graduating high school, Arlene moved to Kansas City where she worked for several years for Riss & Co. and Corn Products before she fell for Nobert “Bob”Schwartz, a traveling steel salesman from Cleveland.

It was a whirlwind romance and the two eloped to Saint Louis where they were married by the Justice of the Peace, who, at first tried to marry the groom to the witness. Once the correct parties were identified, the newly married Mr. and Mrs. Schwartz made their way to Cleveland where they stayed for more than 30 years.

In 1989, she and Bob decided they had had enough of the Cleveland winters, so they, like many NE Ohioans, made their way down to Florida. Bob passed away in 2005, but Arlene remained in Florida, first in Wellington and then in Sarasota until 2023 when she returned to Cleveland.

Arlene was the consummate hostess with a wicked sense of humor. She loved nothing more than throwing a huge dinner party for her friends. She might plan a gourmet meal for 30, disappear for a moment and come back in a French maid costume to toss the Caesar salad table side. She was a community volunteer, delivering for Meals on Wheels and working for the Orange Art Center. She crafted intricate needlepoint and played the piano beautifully, mainly by ear. She had an extraordinarily lovely singing voice.

Arlene was known for her sense of style. She had beautiful clothes and shoes, and was a shoe model for a department store in Kansas City when she first moved out on her own. She was always elegantly dressed, but not afraid to roll up the sleeves of her fancy dress and paint the set for the high school musical.

She loved to play Bridge and Scrabble and played a pretty good game long after dementia had started to take its toll.

A serial cruiser, Arlene travelled all over the world, a highlight being a trip on the Concorde with a return cruise on the Queen Elizabeth II. She also visited several countries throughout Europe, the Caribbean and South and Central America.

Arlene was generous with her time and her money. There were numerous people who she helped who are not aware of her kindness and generosity. She may have bought you a sandwich or helped pay off your car. It was all the same to her. If you needed help, she was there. Even as she was afflicted with advancing symptoms of dementia, she never stopped asking, “Is there anything you need?”

Arlene is preceded in death by her husband, Nobert E. Schwartz and siblings Margie Hawkins, Virginia Eads, Mary Hinshaw, Harold David Hawkins, Johnny Hawkins, Robert Hawkins, Kenneth Hawkins, and Stevie Hawkins

Also preceding her in death was her special companion of 15 years, Andrew Dax of Wellington, Florida.

Arlene is survived by daughters Susan Podor (Kenny) of Sarasota, FL and Laura Lindauer (Craig) of Chardon, OH, granddaughters, Olivia Urso (Brian Taylor) of Colorado Springs and Camille Urso of Malaga, Spain, and sisters, Shirley Sowell and Deloris Dahms.

Arlene’s family would like to thank the incredibly caring and nurturing staff at Maplewood at Chardon and Hospice of the Western Reserve for the compassionate care she received in her final years of life.

In the spirit of her kindness, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, friends and family make a donation to the Maplewood Heart Foundation, Hospice of the Western Reserve, or a charity near to your heart.

A celebration of life will take place in future days.

Daughter Laura and Arlene used to end each phone call with each one trying to get the last word in before hanging up, so it breaks Laura’s heart to finally win this one.

Mama, I love you MORE!