Oakwood resident honored as Cradle Beach Legend

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – ElderWood Health Care at Oakwood resident Elizabeth Arnone, 97, recently was honored as a Cradle Beach Legend at a ceremony at the camp. This is the second year that Cradle Beach has recognized outstanding community members who have been influenced by the spirit of Cradle Beach, a camp for disadvantaged and disabled children from western New York.

Arnone was born in Italy in 1910. In 1918, her family moved to the West Side of Buffalo. Arnone used to spend time at the First Italian Protestant Church, watching the missionaries play the piano. One spring, a missionary asked Arnone where she was going for summer vacation. She replied that she wasn’t going anywhere – her family wasn’t able to afford a vacation. The missionary arranged for Arnone to attend camp at Cradle Beach that summer.

One of Arnone’s favorite memories from Cradle Beach is the sliced white bread they would serve with real butter. Although her mother baked wonderful bread, Arnone had never had American sliced bread and she thought it was such a treat. She also remembers her lovely blue camp uniform – she says she was extremely proud to wear it. Swimming was a favorite camp activity. Arnone recalls all the children rushing into the water at Lake Erie. “Oh, what a thrill!” she said. She also enjoyed taking beautiful nature walks early in the morning as the sun rose. Arnone loved every minute of her time at Cradle Beach. She says the experience had a big impact on her.

Now 97 years old, Arnone looks back fondly on her life. The oldest of six children, she worked hard as a young girl helping her mother take care of her siblings. When she was a teenager, she met Vincent Arnone, the brother of one of her friends. After a two-year engagement, she married Vincent at the age of 17. She had two children, a son, Vincent, and a daughter, Gloria. Arnone’s family has grown to include 18 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth and Vincent Arnone were married for 70 years before Vincent passed away. Vincent worked for the Erie County Health Department and went on to become a New York State Assemblyman. Arnone remembers attending Governor Rockefeller’s Ball in Albany. “It was like being in a movie!” she said.

Arnone currently lives at ElderWood Health Care at Oakwood in Williamsville. She enjoys her life there and enthusiastically participates in all of the activities. She is the Resident Council president. Arnone spends much of her time participating in fundraising events for the Variety Kids Telethon. Last year, Arnone proudly presented Oakwood’s donation of more than $3,000 on air. She has already started fundraising for the 2009 Telethon, and has vowed to raise even more money this year.

Arnone knows most all of the 200 residents who live at Oakwood. Most people know and remember Arnone because of her bright smile.

“I have so many things to talk about and I’ve had experiences that not many people can say they’ve had,” said Arnone. “I thank God every minute.”

ElderWood Health Care at Oakwood is a part of ElderWood Senior Care, providing skilled nursing care, subacute care, rehabilitation, assisted living, independent living, memory care, cardiovascular transitional care and respiratory care to more than 3,500 people each year at 17 locations in western and central New York. For more information, visit www.elderwood.com.