A Tribute to Ann Arena

When Governor Rockefeller of New York vetoed the anti-abortion bill in 1967 that the State Assembly had approved, indignant Catholics and Protestants formed groups to oppose the measure.  In the Utica-Rome area, a small RTL association was started which met at the celebrated and noble Trinkaus Manor in Oriskany, NY.  The owner, a pro-lifer himself, generously allowed the group to use it for their monthly meetings. In the beginning, we were a pretty motley bunch, similar to the angry farmers and merchants who had organized themselves to lead the American Revolution against the English. Al Bushong, Joe Fahy, Ginny Van Slyke, etc. were enthusiastic and dynamic leaders full of ideas and plans to fight and end abortion in New York State. They put ads in the local newspapers inviting everyone to participate in the reunions to combat the abortion law. The holy, Spirit filled and prayerful Joe Bosco, who was responsible for getting me involved in RTL at an early age, would take me with him to the Trinkaus Manor meetings. It was there that I met the charming and lovely couple called the Arenas.

Al Bushong and his friends first sponsored a dinner and then would show slides of aborted babies after it. John Arena nearly threw up after he saw the slides. He got sick to his stomach and had never seen pictures of an actual abortion before. He was shocked, and from that day, immediately dedicated himself completely to the human life movement. John and Ann Arena were from New Jersey. He was of Sicilian origin with dark hair and big hands and she was of a Swedish background with light hair and blue eyes.  I loved to hear them speak so eloquently with their accent. John had a rare talent for effective speaking and writing and was even president of a toastmaster’s society. John’s grandfather was the 32^nd child of his parents (his great grandmother had sixteen children from each of two husbands, being a widow of the first).  John and Ann themselves had eight children. I remembered Ann as always being a very sweet, educated, polite and humble person.

John threw his entire fortune and time to combating abortion in upstate New York. From Buffalo to Albany and from Ogdensburg to Binghamton, he would drive an old school bus that he purchased with his own money and loaded up with all sorts of people and youth. He himself paid for the fuel and lunches of those who went with him. The bus was a real eye-catcher painted with the wildest colors and plastered with photos of aborted children. We would target PP clinics, pro-abortion events and fund-raisers and Catholic groups in league with the culture of death forces. John organized and gave lectures to all pro-life groups that he had started in every county of upstate New York. He would spend hours writing letters to newspapers, associations and individuals to try to make them see the light of the evil of child murder. All this activity and being away from home to defend human life was very taxing to his wife and family. It began to create many difficulties for them. Ann knew, in her heart, that John’s mission in favor of the unborn would be costly to her and she would not be able to count much on the presence of her husband in their personal life. Yet, she generously accepted this sacrifice within her and allowed her husband to work in favor of the life of the unborn, in a sense, like our Lady giving up her Son for our salvation.  In the beginning, Ann did not understand her husband’s mission and suffered greatly because of it. When she realized how important it was to save the lives of the babies, she herself accepted the self-denial and accompanied her husband in the battle. Faithfully at his side, she supported his work wholeheartedly. In the later years, John became a daily communicant and would also make his holy hours in the late night hours. He fasted and prayed to end abortion in the country, even from his cell in jail (being arrested several times for his pro-life efforts). Ann was there present in his humiliation, suffering and loneliness. Two days ago, Ann passed away at an advanced age and leaving behind for all of us the legacy of a great, wonderful, generous, delightful, dedicated, humble and warm personality. May she intercede for us from heaven and for all those in struggle to save the unborn!

Father Anthony Mellace