Arlene Elizabeth Hartwell passed away on September 4, 2025, in the early morning hours at St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, MA. Arlene was born in Brighton, MA., on April 12th, 1957, and spent the majority of her childhood growing up in Concord, Mass. as one of six girls, daughter to Francis and Yvette Hughes.
Arlene is survived by her husband Haywood ‘Hardy’ Hartwell, Jr. of Bristol, RI; and her children: Nathan Hartwell and his wife Kacey of Haverhill, MA, Bradford Hartwell and his wife Lindsey of East Providence, RI, and Anne Hartwell and her husband John of Boxford, MA. Arlene was the beloved ‘Nana’ to eight grandchildren: Charlotte, Grace, Miles, Rosemary, Lillian, Hannah, Theodore, and Jameson. She was a cherished sister to Karen, Michelle, Barbara, Gail, and Lisa, friend, and aunt to her many nieces, nephews and their children.
Arlene graduated from Concord Carlisle High School in 1975 and received her nursing degree from St Joseph’s Hospital Nursing School. After raising a family, she enrolled in Worcester State College and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Health Sciences and Masters of Science in Public Health. She spent most of her career in a job she loved, serving as a pediatric nurse in Southboro and Hopkinton, MA. Before retiring in 2019 she served as a Board Director for the state of Rhode Island in the health department.
Arlene and Hardy met at Walden Pond teaching swimming lessons in 1969. They enjoyed a growing and maturing relationship through High School. After a brief hiatus, Arlene and Hardy reunited and were married in 1982 in Durham, NH. They raised their children in Southborough, MA, spending countless hours at sporting events, practices, and concerts supporting Nate, Brad and Annie. Arlene loved to host and cook for her friends and family: turkey on Thanksgiving, “fall-off-the bone” ribs on the 4th of July, and maintaining an endless supply of “Nana’s Chocolate Chip Cookies”.
In her leisure time, Arlene enjoyed nature, gardening, reading, creating works of stained glass, walking her dog Shirlie, sitting on her deck watching a sunset, or listening to the sound of a soft rain. Arlene and Hardy sailed out of Bristol Harbor for 37 years, relocating to Bristol permanently in 2008. They enjoyed many sailing adventures traveling to Block Island, Maine, New York Harbor, and even traversing the rivers of France and sailing the Caribbean Sea.
In her retirement, Arlene was at her happiest when spending time with her grandchildren. Arlene’s compassionate spirit, playful nature, and love of laughter brought immense joy to all those who knew her. Her thoughtfulness and dedication to the happiness of others was a reflection of her kind soul and immense heart. The lessons of love and empathy that she passed to her children and grandchildren will live on forever in our hearts.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Arlene’s memory to any of the following: Audubon Society of Rhode Island, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809, www.asri.org; or to: Breast Cancer Center of Rhode Island: Brown University Health Cancer Institute Development Office, PO Box H, Providence, RI 02901, www.brownhealth.org/centers-services/breast-cancer-center; or to: Mental Health Association of Rhode Island, C/O Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Blvd., Center House, Room C-98, Providence, RI 02906, www.mhari.org/ways-to-give/.
(Photo and Obituary via George C. Lima Funeral Home, Inc.)
