Eden Reyes Arentsen

Eden Reyes Arentsen, 77, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, died Thursday, March 24, 2011. Visitation will begin after 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 31st at the Gathering Center of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. A funeral mass will follow at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Mrs. Arentsen's body will be cremated following the mass. The Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements. Born May 2, 1933 in Manila, Philippines, Eden was the daughter of former Representative and Governor Juan S. Reyes of Sorsogon (deceased) and Teacher Rosario F. Reyes also of Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines (deceased). After completing High School at the Colegio de Jesus-Maria (now Dominican College) of San Juan City where the family resided for 17 years, Eden earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Far Eastern University in Manila, Philippines. She married Rosendo Herrera of Sariaya, Quezon, Philippines and from that union came three sons. He preceded her in death in 1992. Eden later married Robert Arentsen, who preceded her in death in 1996. For thirty years, Eden was a teacher, employee and businessperson in the Philippines. In 1984, she moved to California. Following her move to the United States, Eden worked as a transcriber for Medical Insurance Exchange of California in Oakland, San Francisco Bay Area, USA. For the past year and a half, she lived in Mount Pleasant with her son, Cenen Reyes Herrera and family. To her sons, she emphasized discipline and the need for good education. She is known to be generous for assisting the needy. Eden loved dancing and playing the piano. Surviving her are her three sons and daughters-in-lawa"Noel and Emily, Cenen and Alice, and Glenn and Cieloa"and grandchildren Jong, Jay-r, Jasmin, Tin-tin and Carina. Her siblings are Eva, Bella, Alma, Ligaya, Juan Jr., Recto, Fr. Vic, Dr. Pat and Leni. May we request the reader to say one "Our Father" for her.