Arleen Banowetz

Arleen Banowetz, 80, died Wednesday, February 21, 2024.Rosary will be at 7:30 pm, Wednesday, February 28, 2024; Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 am, Thursday, February 29, 2024, both at St. Jude Catholic Church.Arleen was born in the Bronx, New York. With her father in the US Army, she lived in many places including Germany and Taiwan. She married Martin Reilly, an Army helicopter pilot and had three children, Marleen, Mark, and Laureen. After Marty passed away, she married David Banowetz. They met dancing and enjoyed waltzing together for their almost 57-year marriage. Together they lived in El Paso, TX, Columbia, MO, Des Moines, IA, and finally Wichita, KS. David and Arleen had two children, Brian and Nicole. She supported her children in school and in all the activities they did.Arleen completed her bachelor’s degree at Newman University in 1983 and went on to obtain her MBA from Wichita State. She became the Assistant Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at WSU which included teaching entrepreneurship and marketing. Arleen loved being involved in her family and extended family, whether hosting family events or taking care of someone. In 1986 she became a grandmother, a role she greatly relished as more grandchildren were added. As a grandmother she loved spending time with the grandchildren; whether it was cheering them on in a sport or activity, taking them out to a special restaurant such as La Galette, or a special place like Exploration Place, or go-cart riding, whatever they wanted to do.Arleen was active in church as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, Altar Society, or where help was needed. Survived by her husband, David Banowetz; daughters, Marleen Dykhuis of St. Petersburg, FL, Laureen F. (Paul) Thill of Wichita, Nicole (Kevin) Donohue of Sedgwick, KS; sons, Mark (Shari) Banowetz of Andover, KS, Brian (Kathy) Banowetz of Wichita; sisters, Alexis Mariconda, Aleta Mariconda, April (Kevin) May; brother, Alan (Kathleen) Mariconda; grandchildren, Stephanie (Richard) Carbon, Laci Banowetz, Meggan (Chris) Nodine, Tyson (Mary) Banowetz, Christopher Banowetz, Kaylee Donohue, Nolan Donohue, Nate Donohue, Khloe Donohue, Nick Donohue; 13 great-grandchildren; nephews, Anthony Mariconda, Aaron Mariconda, Alexander Gertsma; niece, Kara Rush; sister-in-law, Bernadette (Ken) Seibert; brother-in-law, Virgil (Diane) Banowetz.Preceded in death by her parents, Alexander and Adele Mariconda; first husband, Martin Reilly; grandchildren, Tyler Craig, Anthony Banowetz; sister-in-law, Viola Schuster; in-laws, Lawrence and Dolores Banowetz; brothers-in-law, David Maizel, Eddy Martinez; sons-in-law, Mark Dykhuis, Monty Craig.A memorial has been established with: St. Jude Catholic Church, 3030 N. Amidon, Wichita, KS 67204.Services in care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary - East Chapel.