MaryAnn Eleanor Arnold

1951 – 2024

MaryAnn Eleanor Arnold (nee Forgione), of Lawrenceville, passed away on March 8, 2024 at the age of 72 after a lengthy and difficult hospitalization.

She was born in Boston, MA to Joseph Andrew Forgione Jr. and Josephine Lorraine Voto. MaryAnn grew up in East Boston going to the Boston Trade High School for Girls. She spent the last thirty years residing in Lawrenceville, NJ. In 1973 MaryAnn enlisted in the United States Air Force to be trained as a Medical Services Specialist.  Her future husband, Stephen W. Arnold, proposed to her while they were both still in Basic Training and married her less than a year later after they finished their respective Technical Training Schools. Four years later, MaryAnn’s enlistment ended with the birth of their first child and she persuaded her husband to finish his Bachelor’s Degree and obtain an Air Force Officers’ Commission. During their 20 years with the Air Force they have been together to Texas, New York, Illinois, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Florida, Virginia, England, and New Jersey. In 2009 MaryAnn obtained Certification as a Medical Assistant/Phlebotomist and worked briefly in a doctor’s office before health issues forced her to stop.

Her interests included her husband’s career, their home, and his hobbies, all of which she supported and shared. She cherished her children, their families, and her granddaughters, cooking, as well as cats, ceramics, sewing, needlepoint, the British Royal Family, travel, fine dining, soap operas, reading, classic rock music, movies, and hidden object computer gaming.

MaryAnn, during the past 18 years, was an active Officer in and Life Member of American Legion Post 414 and also a Member of its Legion Auxiliary. She also attended Mercer County Committee and NJ Department functions. She was a Life Member of the DAV as a Vietnam Era Disabled Veteran. She was a graduate of the NJ American Legion College Basic, Advanced, Club Management, and Chaplain Courses. Until her health prevented it, MaryAnn, with her husband, were delegates to the NJ Annual Legion Convention.

MaryAnn is survived by her partner of 50 years, Maj Stephen W. Arnold, USAF Ret., her children Aaron Joseph (Holli) and Elizabeth Ann, her grandchildren Aviva and Maya, her brothers Joseph and Anthony, sisters Patricia Deming and Sandra Frongillo, her sister-in-law Donna Hamblin Forgione, as well as many loving cousins, nieces and nephews, service & Legion comrades, and cherished friends.

MaryAnn was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Josephine Forgione.

Visitation will be from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on Friday, March 15 at Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel, with American Legion Honors at 11:00 am. Private Funeral Services and Interment will follow at BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Contributions in MaryAnn’s’s memory may be made to The American Legion Post 414, 100 Berwyn Place, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.