3,318 Hours of Labor and Love: The Legacy of Rainbow's "Laundry Goddess"
3,318 Hours of Labor and Love: The Legacy of Rainbow’s "Laundry Goddess"
by Kenyon Kemnitz
Sharing a smile in the garden are (from left) Marleen Borth, Charlene Porter, and Arlene Seitz. Affectionately known at Rainbow as the "Lean Sisters," this unique trio features Arlene, her younger sister Marleen, and her daughter Charlene.
Arlene Seitz is not a woman used to sitting still. For 45 years, she ran the bacon slicer at a local meatpacking plant—famously becoming the first person to slice pepperoni for Domino’s Pizza—and when she retired, she channeled that tireless energy into 11 years of dedicated volunteering at Rainbow Community Care. Though a dementia diagnosis has finally forced the legendary 6:00 a.m. "laundry lady" to slow down and accept home hospice care, her legacy remains active. Her daughter, Charlene Porter, has stepped directly into her footsteps, ensuring the family's worker-bee spirit continues to fill the halls.
Born on July 21, 1938, Arlene’s deep-rooted work ethic was forged early in life. As the oldest of five girls and one boy growing up on a farm, she was often expected to handle the heavy lifting alongside her father.
"She was treated like a son on the farm," said Josh Rosburg, Inpatient Center (IPC) chef, who bonded with Arlene over stories of the old days. "They had to be tough and hardworking. I feel honored to have earned that woman's respect. During our chats, I would hear some amazing stories."
That lifelong spirit of labor and love eventually led Arlene to Rainbow Community Care. In 2014, both of her parents, Cliff and June Altwies, were on Rainbow's service. Looking for socialization for her father, a retired farmer who was restless at home while her mother navigated dementia, Arlene met with Volunteer Services Coordinator Jill Radke. When Radke suggested pairing him with another volunteer legend, Ken Pugh, a 40-year family friendship was uncovered. This chance assignment brought the two old friends back together. Pugh took Arlene's father on long country drives past their old farm, instantly reviving their decades-long connection.
The deep gratitude for the care her parents received stayed with Arlene. In early 2014, the family room at the Rainbow Hospice Care Inpatient Center hosted Cliff and June’s remarkable 76th wedding anniversary. Surrounded by three generations of family, they celebrated a lifetime of devotion.
Just a month later, Cliff passed away at Sylvan Crossings of Jefferson at age 96. June died six months later, on October 7. Facing the compounding loss of her parents, alongside her husband, Merlyn, who passed in 2008, Arlene needed a renewed purpose and outlet for her grief. Later that month, she signed up as a volunteer, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Rainbow had just installed a commercial washer and dryer. Arlene jumped on board as one of the original "laundry ladies” and quickly earned the legendary title of “the laundry goddess” from Jill Radke.
Helping others filled a void in Arlene’s heart. Kind, caring, and highly organized, she became the anchor of the early-morning shift, arriving like clockwork at 6:00 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. Arlene quickly found that she needed the staff’s support as much as they needed her, soon developing deep, lasting friendships with fellow volunteers and Rainbow employees.
"She was in charge of washing and drying all of the mop heads, plus cleaning cloths, kitchen towels, and chef coats," recalled Radke. "If we were really backed up, she would wash, dry, and iron sheets as well. She always had to be busy."
Sometimes Arlene also helped former IPC Chef Jim Schmidt in the kitchen. But the chore most people avoid was her absolute favorite.
"I can still hear her telling me, 'I love to iron,’ said her younger sister, Marleen Borth. "I thought, 'What? Who loves to do that?' She is just a worker all the time."
Charlene laughs remembering how far her mother took that favorite chore.
"I can remember sometimes when I was younger, I'd bring my laundry to mom...and she'd iron my dish towels. She'd iron like anything she could find to iron."
The hours Arlene dedicated to Rainbow were staggering. Over her tenure, she accumulated an incredible 3,318 hours of volunteer time. Even as she aged, there was no stopping her. In between loads, she made her rounds to staff members, leaving a trail of homemade sweet treats, holiday cards, and proud stories about her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also became a fixture at the annual golf outing, famously supervising the course games and posing for pictures alongside professional long driver, Andrew “Thor” Herbert.
"She knew the building better than most of our staff," Radke said. "Arlene was here so much and became a big part of our work life."
When Arlene could no longer drive due to declining health, Charlene, a recent two-time cancer survivor, moved into her mother’s Jefferson home to care for her.
Initially, Charlene only planned to provide behind-the-scenes support by driving Arlene to the IPC so her mother could keep visiting friends. But because she stayed in the building to assist her mother, Rainbow required her to complete volunteer training.
After an AFib episode forced Arlene to step away from volunteering, Charlene realized she was already equipped to keep the family tradition alive. She officially stepped into her new volunteer role on October 16, 2025.
"I thought, 'Well, I might as well keep doing it, you know, why not?'" Charlene said. "I always say I'm going to follow in her footsteps."
True to form, Arlene had a few thoughts about someone else taking over her shift—and she wasn't shy about sharing them.
"Arlene did accuse Charlene of 'stealing' her job, which I find hilarious!" Radke shared.
Today, Charlene volunteers on Thursdays, helping with laundry and housekeeping duties while keeping the facility spotless alongside Environmental Specialist and CNA Jade Finona.
"Arlene led by example," Jade said. "She was a hard worker, a dedicated volunteer, and will always be a great friend; and today, it's an honor to 'work' alongside her daughter, Charlene. People give back more willingly when they've been seen."
The family's multi-generational connection to Rainbow runs deep, brought to life by a trio affectionately known as the "Lean Sisters." Arlene, her sister Marleen, and her daughter Charlene's rhyming names have always drawn smiles and sparked curiosity. Arlene and Marleen's mother started the pattern, prompting constant questions about whether the two were twins. Years later, a static-heavy, long-distance phone call from California led relatives to mistakenly think the newest baby was named Darlene—a name nobody liked. Once the line cleared, she was officially welcomed as Charlene, cementing a three-generation sisterhood that eventually found a collective home at Rainbow.
When Marleen's husband, Everett, passed away on Rainbow’s hospice services at their home in July 2024, she found an immediate lifeline in Rainbow's "Morning Joe" grief support group on Monday mornings.
"It's been great for me. I love it," Marleen said. "It's a good start on Monday morning of your week. And the people here are kind and loving and we're all in the same boat."
Marleen also found profound comfort and healing in utilizing the center's outdoor wind phone to read letters and speak to Everett. The phone was installed in the summer of 2025 in Rainbow’s memorial garden to help grieving family members feel connected to those they have lost.
"It gave me a feeling that I was actually talking to him and he was hearing me," Marleen shared.
That deep gratitude has Marleen thinking about following her sister and niece into the volunteer ranks. While nothing is set in stone, she has expressed strong interest in sitting and spending time with patients when the time is right.
The care Arlene spent so many years selflessly providing has found its way back to her. Arlene now receives Rainbow home hospice care, allowing her to stay comfortably at home with Charlene as they celebrate the arrival of Arlene’s 10th great-grandchild.
“The nurse visit gives me peace of mind,” Charlene said. “The CNA visit is just helpful for me as far as cleaning her up and taking care of her. I would just highly recommend them. I didn't even realize hospice was available for dementia patients, and it has been so helpful."
But caregiving at home is a profound, non-stop responsibility, and Rainbow's respite care program steps in to bridge the gap, giving caregivers a temporary break by transferring their loved one to an Inpatient Center suite for up to five days. Charlene has utilized this vital service three times—in mid-February, late March, and early June—giving her a chance to recharge while knowing her mother is in great hands.
The IPC staff ensures Arlene's days are filled with the familiar comforts of home. They keep her morning and evening news programs on the television, play her favorite older country music, and make sure she gets a cozy, warm blanket before her bedtime.
Most importantly, the center honors her appetite. Whether she wants a fried egg sandwich or peanut butter toast for breakfast, her absolute favorite meals are anything Chef Josh prepares for her, and at 2:00 p.m. sharp, the staff serves her daily afternoon tea.
"I've used the respite a few times, I was totally comfortable," Charlene said. "They spoil her and take really good care of her.”
Even though dementia has altered her daily life, the core of Arlene's true spirit remains untouched by time or illness. When she attended a volunteer ice cream social in April, Arlene lit up as staff and volunteers gathered to shower her with hugs.
The staff's love for her stretches far beyond the facility walls and normal work hours, manifesting in acts of neighborly kindness. Dave Radke, Rainbow’s Facilities Manager, shared a 6:00 a.m. start time with Arlene for years, always calling her on snowy or cold mornings to ensure she was safe to drive or to tell her to stay home. He later built a custom steadying post for her porch, and Josh has visited her home to help replace a bubbling kitchen floor.
“Even to this day, when I see her, I give her a big hug," Dave said. "I stop by her house every now and then to see how she's doing. I always end with 'I love you.' It took her quite a while to say it back, but it puts a smile on my face.”
For a family that has spent two generations interwoven with Rainbow Community Care, the IPC is far more than just a clinical healthcare facility. It is a sanctuary of shared memories, anchored by a legendary “laundry goddess” who gave her whole heart to the halls and left a legacy of service that her daughter continues today.
"You walk in and it's just so nice, and it feels like family," Charlene said.
Arlene smiled, her thoughts turning to the building she loves and the people she misses so dearly—and who miss her right back.
"That place is heaven sent," Arlene said softly. "It’s just family, and you can't ask for anything more than that."
