Rebecca “Becky” Arney

September 20, 1976-January 9, 2019

          Niles-After 31 days of confinement Becky finally escaped the hospital only to find herself imprisoned by her own body.  On Wednesday, January 9, 2019 her spirit found its final release and she joined her maternal grandparents and paternal grandfather on the final adventure on which we must all embark.

          Becky is a 1994 graduate of John Adams High School in South Bend where she had continued her love of music and theater which began with her first performance in the Firefly production of Annie Oakley at age six. These two passions followed her to Indiana University of South Bend where she completed her studies with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in Technical Theatre, which led to her short career as a props mistress with Virginia Repertory Theatre in Richmond, VA.

          Becky fully supported STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), and made a point of telling everyone that it was STEAM and not STEM because without the Arts the others become meaningless.  She was keenly interested in not only theatrical productions but in filmography: she saw an average of two films a month and would intelligently discuss the merits of not only the blockbuster movies but foreign films and lesser known short films.

          In addition to her love of music and theater, Becky was passionate about the environment to the point that she insisted on recycling from her hospital bed to compensate for all the waste that her treatments were creating.  She was keenly aware of the negative effects of climate change and actively supported political candidates who shared her desire to leave a better world for the next generation.  Her desire to stay active and creative during her long battle led her to developing interests in photography, cooking, crocheting, disc golf, organic gardening, and being a BadA$$ Warrior.

          Her life may have been cut short but Becky leaves behind a loving family which includes her parents, Michael and Marilyn Arney; her paternal grandmother, Dorothy Sproule; a sister, Deborah Arney, a niece and nephew, a grandniece, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.  Becky also leaves behind an extended family of friends from all over the world who share her passions and love for life.

          Per her request there will not be a funeral or visitation, but the family will have celebration of her life at a day and time to be announced.  The family asks that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center for small cell cervical cancer research at https://www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers/donate/honor-loved-ones.html  

01/09/2019 JFC

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