ROCHELLE — Heaven received a remarkable woman when Harriet K. (Hayenga) Arwood, 81, went home to be with her Lord. She passed away unexpectedly of natural causes on Dec. 31, 2020 at the Franklin Grove Living and Rehabilitation Center. She was born on May 22,1939 in Rochelle, the daughter of Mason W. Hayenga and LaMae (Zies) Hayenga

Harriet was a life long resident of Rochelle.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a stepfather, John Ihnen; two brothers, Lowell and Mason; sister, Jackie Hayenga; and her daughter, Kathryn Schweizer.

She was an avid roller skater in her youth being at the roller rink every time the doors were open. Harriet was employed as a secretary ever since her graduation from RTHS. She worked for a local eye doctor’s office, the Chamber of Commerce, a couple of local real estate offices, but spent over 35 years working for Caron International.

Harriet enjoyed John Wayne movies, listening to the Statler Brothers and watching a variety of sports on television. She loved reading her favorite books by Debbie Macomber and the Murder She Wrote mysteries. Most recently her passion was watching the Hallmark Channel movies and she saw all of them more than once. Harriet loved lighthouses and their meaning regarding her Lord and Savior.

Throughout her life she enjoyed crafting, but she mostly crocheted. Friends and family have benefitted from her talent in the form of blankets, doilies and other craft items she made over the years.

Above all she loved her family....our loss is Heaven’s gain. She is survived by two daughters, Lisa (Vinnie) Burton of Vonore, Tennessee, and Marci (Brian) Esgar of Rochelle; son-in-law Lincoln Schweizer of Adolphus, Tennessee; seven grandchildren, Nick (Beth) Ethridge, Randy (Angela) Ethridge, Jake (Rachel) Burton, Steven (Stacy) Schweizer, Kaitlin (Matthew) Gille, Andrea (Rik) Laube, and Erin Esgar; 15 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren and no. 3 due in May; and four nieces and two nephews. 

Private family funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7 at the Unger Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. Sixth Street, Rochelle, with Pastor Chad Hall officiating. Burial will follow at Whiterock Cemetery in Kings. Funeral will be live streamed on the Unger Horner Funeral Home Facebook page.  

Memorials may be made to the family. An online guest book is available at www.UngerHorner.com.