Annabel Arena, matriarch of Frank Donio Inc. and daughter of Frank Donio, who founded the growing, shipping and produce distributing company in 1933 that bears his name, died Friday, March 6, at her home in Hammonton, NJ, surrounded by her loving family. Mrs. Arena, who had been in declining health since suffering a stroke about five years ago, was 87 years old.Annabel Arena, circa 1988. (Photo courtesy of the Donio family)

Born in the Rosedale section of Winslow Township, NJ, she lived her entire life in the Hammonton area, known throughout the produce industry as the blueberry capital of the world. She attended St. Joseph Grammar School and Lower Camden County Regional High School. She also attended Temple University, somewhat of a rarity for women in those days, noted her daughter, Judy Arena Pape, one of the owners of the company.

"As so many people have said to me, my mother was ahead of her time," Pape told The Produce News Monday, March 9. "She was a woman in business when that didn't happen very much. But she was the glue that held us all together. And she was counseling all of us even from her bedside until the day she died."

Annabel Donio worked in the banking business from 1947 to 1952. She married Joseph Arena on Nov. 22, 1952, and in 1955 she joined the Donio family business, serving as secretary and treasurer of Frank Donio Inc. and Donio Trucking Co. until 1999, according to a published report. She served on the board of directors at Frank Donio Inc. for the rest of her life.

As might be expected from her experience in the banking business, Mrs. Arena "was always a numbers person," said Pape. "She was very methodical in how she went about everything. She was the numbers person at Frank Donio Inc. She was our chief financial officer before there was even a name for that."

Pape added, "Nobody was faster on an adding machine than my mother was. But as time went on, she also learned how to use an iPad. And she learned how to master it."

Mrs. Arena was predeceased by her brothers, Samuel A. Arena and Frank G. Donio. She is survived by her husband of more than 62 years, Joseph Arena; her daughter, Judy Arena Pape, and her husband, Tom; her sons, Joseph J. Arena Jr. and his wife, Rose, and David Arena and his wife, Lori; her grandchildren, Katie A. Kuehner and her husband, Wayne, Annie Pape, David Arena Jr., Andrew Arena, Alec Arena and Nicholas Arena; her sisters-in-law, Diane Donio and Angela Donio; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

"My mother put into place a lot of the infrastructure that got our company through the first 60 years," said David Arena, who is president of the well-known company. "All the things she put into place, the way she worked and conducted herself — she was a major force in our lives. She will be missed by a lot of people."

The family suggests that donations may be made to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation. P.O. Box 781352, Philadelphia, PA 19178, attention Susan Wallach.