Joseph "Joe" Michael Arendes

On July 5, 2023, Joseph Michael Arendes, known to his friends as Joe, received his Heavenly reward. He lived a full life of eighty-four years that began on May 23, 1939 in Washington DC. He was born to Joseph and Marguerite Arendes. He grew up in Washington DC and graduated from St. Peter’s Catholic School and later attended St. Charles Seminary in Baltimore, MD. He found success when he began a career with Home Building Association as a Head Teller. During this time he met a charming woman who would later become his wife, Christina Grajcar. On November 9, 1963, they married and started a beautiful life together. They lived for 27 years in a home in Lusby designed by Joe and built by Dillon Construction. Joe elevated to Financial Analyst with the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and was later promoted to Deputy Assistant Director of Regional Operations. He eventually went on to become a Residential and Commercial Real Estate Appraiser. He found time to volunteer at the Maryland State Police Barrack in Prince Frederick. Joe and Christina loved going on adventures cruising to places like Alaska and the Caribbean. They were proud parishioners of Our Lady Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church in Solomons. Joe loved being a husband and father but being a grandfather and great grandfather completed him. He had a very nurturing and playful way about him that made many memories for those special kids lucky enough to call him their grandfather and great grandfather.

Joes’ legacy lives on through his wife of 59 years, Christina Arendes; children, Michelle Jenkins and her husband, Joe and Carolyn Dillon and her husband, Matthew; grandchildren, Jesse Dillon and his wife, Michelle, Christopher Dillon and his wife, Kelly, Taylor Dillon, Daniel Jenkins, and Hannah Roberts and her husband, Jesse; and 8 great grandchildren. Joe was greeted in Heaven by his granddaughter, Nicole Leigh Jenkins; great grandson, Rowan Joseph Roberts; and siblings, Vincent Arendes and Ann Marie Arendes.

The family will receive friends on Friday, July 14, 2023 from 2:00pm – 6:00pm at Lee Funeral Home Calvert, P.A., 8200 Jennifer Lane, Owings. His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 11:00am at Our Lady Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church, 50 Alexander Lane, Solomons, MD 20688. Interment to follow in Southern Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers are: Matthew Dillon, William J. Jenkins, III, Jesse Dillon, Christopher Dillon, R. Cash Bingham, and Zachary Aschenbrenner.

Flowers will be graciously accepted but donations may be directed to the Alzheimer Association.