Laura R. (Gillis) Arena passed away peacefully on March 12th, at the age of 96 at the West Acres Nursing Home. Laura was the daughter of the late Arthur Gillis and Laura (Yeager) Gillis. Laura was the youngest of 12 siblings.

Laura grew up in Brockton, attending local schools, graduating, and going on to work for the telephone company while in her 20's. While living in Brockton, she met and married the love of her life, Francis J. Arena. They were wed on September 21, 1947. Laura and Frank were inseparable, if you saw one of them, you saw the other. When she became a mother, Laura left the phone company to stay home with her children until the youngest was in high school. Laura went on to work for Sears in the paint department, which she thoroughly enjoyed, staying there for 20 years before retiring. Frank and Laura became snowbirds, spending the winters in Florida from 1982-1994. After moving out of Brockton, they resided in Taunton. They were very happily married for 66 years until Frank's passing. Laura was an avid bowler, card player, reader, enjoyed playing bingo, watching local sports teams, and a dancer. Frank and Laura were beautiful ballroom dancers, enjoying many Saturday nights out with friends at local dance halls. Laura even taught many of her friends in FL the art of line dancing.

Laura leaves behind her sons, Michael and his wife, Leslie, of E. Providence, Steven and his wife, Liz, of West Bridgewater, Daniel and his wife, Linda, of Whitman, and daughter, Cheryl Wilder and her husband, Jack, from Mansfield. She was the very loving Nana to Michael, Christoper and Steven Arena, Matthew, Casey and Nicholas Wilder and the late Joseph Arena. Great Nana to Jackson, Jameson, Abram, Leo, Marlon and Norah.

Services will be private with burial in the Bourne National Cemetery with her beloved husband, Frank.