Obituary of Arlene Frances Bizzarri

Arlene grew up in Dundurn, Saskatchewan where she was always surrounded by family and friends. From a very young age she was busy at work helping her mother, a telephone operator, on the switchboard. She graduated High School at the Academy of Our Lady of Sion in Saskatoon. Following high school she completed a secretarial course working in a doctors office for a few years. She then entered into nursing school at the Calgary General Hospital and graduated in 1971 with several of her very dear friends. Arlenes career as a Registered Nurse was not just a job but was a vocation and a passion. Her professional career began at St. Pauls Hospital in Saskatoon where she had great mentors. Very early in her career she was called to volunteer her professional skills and care through VICS. She worked 2 years in both Zambia and Ethiopia. In both countries she made an impact, developed her professional skills, cared for many people, made several friends and was very loved. While in Ethiopia volunteering, Arlene met the love of her life, Carlo Bizzarri - young, passionate, vivacious and driven professionals. Following their service they were married in Corinaldo, Italy. At age 35, with only an old beat up car to her account, she started to build her family, while working full-time as an RN. Her family was always the pupil of her eye; she was the heart of the family. Arlene made many sacrifices to see her family grow with values and a great work ethic. Arlene spent the rest of her professional life in Regina working at the Plains and the General Hospitals. She worked in the Intensive Care Unit, CSU and PAC/DAS. She was highly respected by her patients and her colleagues. She was recognized as being compassionate, a powerful patient advocate and a provider of only the best patient care. Arlenes nursing friends were truly one of a kind. She was surrounded by a wonderful circle of nurses who are undying true friends. Arlene was a dedicated family woman, a caring wife, the best mother to her children, a brilliant cook, a hospitable host, and a person of faith with total trust in God. Arlene always put others ahead of herself. Her flame used up every drop of her lifes oil: a life lived to the fullest. Arlene is preceded by her parents, Armand and Helen Olivier. As Arlene moves on to next level of life her husband Carlo, son Benjamin, daughter Jennifer, daughter-in-law Erin Ball, her grandchild to be, her brothers Arthur and Donald Olivier, nieces and nephew, uncles and aunts and her friends keep her flame, her examples and her teachings alive on this earthly dimension of life. A Funeral Mass will be held to celebrate Arlenes life on Monday, October 25, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at Holy Child Parish, 2636 7th Avenue East, Regina, Saskatchewan. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be directed to Regina Palliative Care Inc., 4F-4101 Dewdney Avenue, Regina, SK, S4T 1A5. An online book of condolences may be signed at www.speersfuneralchapel.com