Genevieve L. Arntsen

1918 – 2010

SACO — Genevieve Larsen Arntsen, beloved wife of Kristen M. Arntsen, passed away on Feb. 14 at Seal Rock Nursing Home in Saco, surrounded by her family.

A former Naples resident for nearly 50 years, she resided in Biddeford for the past eight years.

Genevieve was born in New York City, the daughter of Ingeborg (Lonning)
and Sigvart Larsen-Saetre, on Oct. 22, 1918, the youngest of six
children. She graduated from high school in the midst of the Depression
and worked at Wanamaker’s, B. Altman’s and Macy’s, before taking a job
working with Notraship, a Norwegian shipping company, during World War
II.

In 1943, she met the love of her life, Kristen, at a
Norwegian-American Club in New York. They were married on April 2, 1944,
at Our Saviour’s Atonement Lutheran Church in Inwood, Manhattan, New
York City.

In 1953, they moved to Naples with their three daughters. There,
they added another daughter and two sons to their family. Genevieve
stayed home to raise their large family, providing some of the finest
Norwegian and American cooking ever to grace a table! In later years,
she went to work at Maine National Bank, Maine Insurance Co. and Chute
Homestead.

Genevieve and Kristen loved to travel and made many trips to Norway
to visit their large extended family who still live there. They also
crossed the country with their camper when they were in their 70s, relishing every moment.

The family has always been close. This is a tribute to the example
that both of our parents set. Nothing is more important than family.
Both were true members of the Greatest Generation.

She is survived by four daughters and a son, Kristine M. Arntsen, Ingrid A. Ebersole (and her husband, John), Lisa A. Goff (and her husband, Alan), Helen A. Gauthier (and her husband, Michael), and Peter M. Arntsen (and his wife, Cynthia). She is also survived by five grandchildren, Kirsten M. Goff and John F. Ebersole Jr. (children of Ingrid), Rebecca L. Arntsen and Erik A. Arntsen (children of Peter), and Benjamin M. Goff (son of Lisa); and five great-grandchildren, Emma C. Goff and Sarah A. Goff (daughters of Kirsten), Erika E. Ebersole and Kira E. Ebersole (daughters of John Jr.), and Aaron M. Male (son of Rebecca). Her nephew, Fred Essenwein and his wife, Patricia, of New Jersey, were like a son and daughter to her.

She was predeceased by her husband, Kristen M. Arntsen; and son, Erik A. Arntsen. 

Even though she was ill during the last few months of her life, we can truly say she was “One Tough Cookie!”

The family would like to thank the caring and thoughtful staff at Seal Rock Nursing Home in Saco.