Priscilla Arnold left this world the same way she lived her life – with class, dignity and grace. Beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she passed away in her sleep at the age of 97 after a long and remarkable life. As the matriarch of a family she loved unconditionally, Pris leaves behind a lasting legacy and will be deeply missed by her family and wide circle of friends.
Priscilla Maude Moeller was born in Philadelphia on September 17, 1928, to Lewis and Mildred Moeller. Her father’s naval career meant the family moved frequently, and Pris spent her childhood in coastal towns across Texas, California, Hawaii (before it became a state!), Washington DC and Guam. At only sixteen years of age, she packed her steamer trunk and set off for Wellsley College where she earned her bachelor’s degree.
During a Christmas visit to Staten Island at the invitation of her college roommate, Pris attended the Richmond County Country Club Holiday Ball. There, a young Princeton student secured the last spot on her dance card – thanks to his mother’s gentle encouragement. That mother would one day become Pris’s beloved mother-in-law.
Prisicilla and William C. Arnold III were married on March 25, 1950, and made their home in Staten Island for the next 65 years. Together they raised three children: William, Cynthia and Thomas.
Her beloved son, Billy, played football at the University of North Carolina. During his junior year he tragically passed away following a football injury – a loss Pris once said “never left but only diminished over time.”
Pris dedicated her professional life to helping others as a mental health therapist. Known for her practical, yet passionate approach, she offered clarity and comfort to those in need. While she never brought her work home, her door and her heart were always open to family members who asked, “May I speak to Mrs. Arnold?”
Beyond her career, Pris was a community volunteer, a skilled bridge player, and a cheerful participant in her bowling league. She was a devoted friend and gracious hostess welcoming generations of guests into her home for holidays, celebrations, and impromptu gatherings filled with laughter and warmth.
In 2014 Pris moved to Holland, Michigan, to be near her daughter. She quickly made many new friends at Freedom Village – help in no small part by her love of bridge. She continued to live vibrantly, traveling, reading voraciously, and creating beautiful needlepoint works that now serve as treasured keepsakes for the loved ones who received them. The competitive spirit she displayed in the daily Wordle group text with her grandchildren and son-in-law will be deeply missed.
Pris was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, William C. Arnold III, her son William C. Arnold IV and her great-grandson, Luke Heydlauff. She is survived by her children Cindy and Rob Pocock and Thomas and Jeanne Arnold. She was fondly known as Nan to her grandchildren Andrew and Megan Pocock, Kate and Jeff Heydlauff, Kimberly and Vitalty Pekelis, and William Arnold V; and her great-grandchildren Charlotte, Jack and Ellie Heydlauff; Max and Campbell Pocock, and Anastasia Pekelis.
A new great-granddaughter will join the family in the spring and she will come to know Nan through the stories told and the memories cherished by all who loved her.
Pris would want her friends to know how deeply she valued the many ways they enriched her life. Her family joins her in that gratitude and extends a heartfelt thanks for the wonderful care she received at Freedom Village. Though it is difficult to say goodbye, we cherish the love, laughter and countless memoires she gave us – and celebrate with full hearts, a life beautifully and gracefully lived
Between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, family members will gather in Traverse City, Michigan and Barnegat, New Jersey for “A Night of Celebrating Nan: Remembering a Life Well Lived.” At a date to be determined, graveside services will be held at Moravian Cemetery in Staten Island where Pris will be laid to rest alongside members of the Arnold family who preceded her.
Those wishing to honor Priscilla’s memory with a contribution are invited to consider the Luke Heydlauff Medical Fund for Children or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
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