Obituary of Arlene Susan Amtzis

Arlene Susanne Amtzis of Freehold, NJ Born April 30th 1951 of Alvin and Evelyn Amtzis (Goldstein) Arlene was raised on Staten Island New York with her two brothers, elder Wayne and younger Marc. While growing up and attending local schools, including graduation from Wagner College, Arlene worked hard in the family Business. The Amtzis family owned a Greenhouse business on Greenleaf Avenue where Arlene and her siblings spent many hours developing a keen business mind and hard work ethic. After college Arlene married Michael Angelo Perrella, a local Staten Island man home from Vietnam. The Perrella and Amtzis family where no strangers as almost all of the Perrella boys worked for Alvin and Evelyn in their family Greenhouses. After marriage Arlene and Michael moved to Piscataway NJ where she had her only child Matthew Michael Perrella. Eventually Arlene and Michael would move on and both re marry into very long marriages. When Arlene remarried it was to Thomas Southwell in Freehold NJ. Arlene worked very hard over her years in Freehold constantly changing roles and reinventing herself every 10 years or so. It never mattered what it was she did, if there was a business opportunity Arlene found it, owned it and maximized it.This is who Arlene was. Yes she was a loving mother, dedicated daughter and fun loving woman but it was really her work ethic that defined her. Arlene owned many successful businesses over the years from Wholesale plants, Professional Signs, Major League Bagels and as a Purveyor of fine things and services. However, it was her last endeavor that was her most impressive. At 62 years of age, over coffee with her favorite cousins the Goldstein girls, Kristi and her discussed shopping at Estate Sales. Kristi told her of all the neat items and great deals she would come across at such events. Well that was it, that was "all she wrote". She said to Kristi "I can do this" and with no delay she got right to work. Arlene talked it over more with her best friend who was a great literary mind and the two over wine came up with Once is Never Enough. Arlene once again, did it again! She started her own Estate Sale business. Arlene spent countless hours researching the business, networking and mastering her new craft. She found every angle and every flaw in her competitions business model. She built her own model on principles of low prices and high reward. She would provide the best service at the lowest price possible. She knew this business was different from all others previous, a much more personal one and thus was more interested in building a referral stream and not a revenue stream. This has been the pillar of her business that still lives on today. 90% of her business comes from referrals. Clients and industry professionals all recognize her for that commitment and have mentioned her name at every opportunity. 2013 was a special year for her. Not only did this great business endeavor spawn but the birth of her only grandchild, a granddaughter, Chloe Madison was born. Chloe was an April baby just like Arlene and both of her own siblings. A few months prior she lost a sibling, her baby brother Marc. Then, that April, on his actual birth day, Chloe came into her life changing it forever. Chloe, born of her son Matthew Perrella and Mom Lani Solano gave Arlene a new purpose, a purpose she carried with sure joy daily. With her 3 babies, new business, new granddaughter and her 93 year old "baby" her mother Evelyn, Arlene had her hands full. She spent the next 3 years focused on all 3. This last year especial[y she spent all of her time: driving her business, caring for her mother and helping her son/granddaughter secure their 1st home. She was relentless in all the facets. Arlene loved the beach, sports and the Arts. Kiawah Island, Phillips Avenue, 161st St/River Ave and Broadway where all places she would spend her down time. Back in December after leaving a performance in Brooklyn of Annie with her son and granddaughter Arlene had a heart attack. It was then we found out that health issues had finally caught up with her. Nevertheless her focus never waivered. In February she saw Matthew purchase his 1st home, gave Chloe a Super 3rd birthday and the demand for her professional services start to soar. After the heart attack Arlene was put on Oxygen but that would not slow her down. 3 weeks ago, while working one of her sales (on oxygen mind you) she finally gave in to her body's request for help, leaving the sale in an ambulance. She was taken to Centra State where they discovered her heart and lungs were beyond repair. After much care she was moved to Penn Presbyterian in Philadelphia. Again, she would not let this slow her down. While the Doctors worked diligently to get her back to health, she worked diligently on her Sales from her lap top in her ICU hospital bed. Last week her Doctors called and said they informed her of what we all feared; she was not getting better and would not be coming home. I drove down there to be with her and go over all her final wishes. We spent the night together talking about all the good times and her wishes for the future. By the morning I walk up to her request for GOOD COFFEE so I made a run down stairs for a tall cup Hazelnut. Upon returning she was again diligently networking and composing articles for her weekends sale. By 11am she was having a hard time breathing but was insistent she had to finish this article to submit for a noon print deadline. She passed just 2 and a half hours later. I begged her to come back to it and even negotiated some pain meds accompanied by the best of Billy Joel soundtracks. We spent the next hour holding hands and listening to the music she raised me on. She made me make 3 promises, 1. I wouldn't let her hard work be in vain and continue her business, 2. that I would take care of grandma and 3. that I would never let Chloe forget her Bubbe. At 130pm she passed quietly as she drifted off to sleep. Arlene (Bubbe), is survived by her mother Evelyn Amtzis, Brother Wayne, Sister in Law Judy, their daughter and her niece Rachel, Son Matthew, granddaughter Chloe Perrella, Chloe's mom Lani Solano, many Goldstein cousins aunts and uncles. The Amtzis, Goldstein, Perrella and Solanos will all miss her. We will never forget you Bubbe. A traditional Jewish Service was held at Higgins Funeral Home in Freehold last Friday July 22nd by Rabbi Ira Rothstein followed by burial next to her father Staten Island, New York. She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyesss.. she can ruin your faith with her casual liesss.. she only reveals what she wants you to see.. she hides like a child but She's Always a Woman to Me. She'll bring out the best and the worst you can be.. but blame it on yourself because she's always a Woman to me - Billy Joel