Arlene Wendy (Fryar) Longo, 78, passed away peacefully after a brief illness surrounded by her three devoted sons and extended loving family, on Friday June 3, 2022. For over 50 years Wendy was the cherished wife of the late Frank Joseph Longo, her true love and best friend. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on May 21, 1944, Wendy was the youngest of four children born to the late Paul and Edwina (Reilly) Fryar. Wendy enjoyed reminiscing about her childhood growing up on Bridge Street in North Weymouth with her three siblings with whom she was always very close. She attended local public schools, graduating from Weymouth High School in 1962. From a very young age, Wendy knew that she wanted to be an elementary school teacher, and she pursued this goal with hard work and determination from the start. She began her first job as a “coat check girl” at the age of nine at Cain’s restaurant next door to her home, working alongside her mother and siblings. She saved in earnest to afford her college tuition, commuting first to Quincy Junior College and then to Curry College in Milton. She later received her Master’s Degree in Education from Bridgewater State University. It was during her time at Curry that Wendy met her beloved husband Frank in biology class, she a cheerleader and he on the football team. They were married just before starting their senior year of college and soon began their family, living first on Canacum Road in Weymouth near Wendy’s sisters and their young families, a time Wendy always remembered fondly. Wendy and Frank moved to Plymouth to raise their three sons in a loving home in a close-knit neighborhood, providing them a childhood full of wonderful memories, including scores of ski trips, holiday celebrations (especially “the grab” at Christmas time and 4th of July neighborhood bicycle/stroller parades), and summers “on the pond” (Great Herring Pond). Wendy was a devoted, caring, and protective mother and a fierce advocate for all those she loved, but especially for her children and for Frank. In later years, Wendy could be found in the kitchen assisting Frank with his cooking for friends and family (often contributing more than Frank might admit!). Second only to her commitment to her family, was Wendy’s dedication to her students. Teaching was more than Wendy’s profession, it was her calling. For 33 years, Wendy was a passionate first grade school teacher who cared deeply about all children in her classroom. She believed she was blessed to have a job that she not only loved, but which was of the utmost importance: teaching young children to read. Wendy was a fixture in the Plymouth public school system throughout her long career. Her classrooms were filled with a mixture of learning, laughter, music, patience, and love. Once a student in Mrs. Longo’s first grade class, you were always her student! Even after her retirement, it was not uncommon to be in her company at the supermarket, on the golf course, in a local restaurant, or on Loon Mountain, when she would bump into former students, and delight in hearing of their accomplishments, while catching up on their family news. Wendy demonstrated a remarkable ability to remember her former pupils’ names and their personal stories, even those who had been her students in the earliest years of her career in the 1970s and 1980s. Once her children were older, Wendy became very active in local politics. She was a respected Plymouth Town Meeting Member for many years and also conscientiously served on the Zoning Board of Appeals. An avid skier, Wendy was a member of the Penguin Ski Cub in Lincoln, New Hampshire, for over 40 years, enjoying countless weekends on Loon Mountain with Frank and her kids, other “Penguins,” and in later years, her grandchildren. In her retirement years, Wendy also took up golf and enjoyed playing in a number of “ladies” leagues, and regularly joined Frank on the links with other couples. She was thrilled to share her excitement about hitting a hole in one on her favorite course, Little Harbor. During retirement, Wendy and Frank enjoyed traveling with friends on trips to Italy, Ireland, Alaska, Myrtle Beach, and New Hampshire, and of course to Disney World with their grandchildren. Wendy was an exceptionally attentive Nana to her five grandchildren, and along with Papa, a constant presence at sporting and school events and all special celebrations. Wendy was always available to assist with school art projects, hand-made Halloween costumes (designed to meet very detailed specifications!), and pick-ups and drop-offs for all of her grandchildren’s many activities. Ever the teacher, Wendy was invited to be a regular “guest lecturer” in her grandchildren’s elementary school classrooms, and spent hours preparing special lesson plans, which were eagerly anticipated and enjoyed by yet another generation of students. In addition to her civic engagement, Wendy contributed to her larger community as a longtime regular volunteer at Damien’s Place Food Pantry in Wareham. She recruited her grandchildren to work along with her, a model for them of service to others. In just the last few weeks, Wendy had been volunteering as a “counter” at the herring run area in Bourne, helping to track fish migration patterns. Wendy was an avid reader, and recommended all genres, but she especially looked forward to the arrival of her weekly People magazine! She enjoyed watching Jeopardy! each evening followed by a phone call to at least one of her sons to discuss Final Jeopardy and other news of the day. Wendy was beloved by many as a generous neighbor and friend, always willing to lend a hand when needed. She will be forever deeply missed by all who loved her so very much. Wendy leaves her three sons: F. Scott Longo and his wife Elizabeth of Bridgewater, Peter Longo of Plymouth, and Mark Longo and his wife Massy of Plymouth. In addition she leaves five adored grandchildren: William, Nicholas, Caroline, Steven and Alexa. Wendy is survived by her devoted sisters Edwina Haglof of Brockton and Paula Swartz of Pembroke, and her longtime next- door neighbor, friend, and dear sister-in-law, Jeanne Fryar of Plymouth. Wendy is pre-deceased by her beloved brother James Fryar II. She also leaves her cousin Eloise Pēna of Saint Helen, California, with whom she had a special bond throughout her entire life, as well many devoted nieces and nephews who were so very fond of her, as she was of them. If desired, or in lieu of flowers, donations in Wendy’s memory would be gratefully accepted to Damien’s Place Food Pantry in Wareham. Visiting hours will be held at Davis Life Celebration Funeral Home, 619 State Road, Plymouth (Manomet), on Thursday June 9th from 4:00-8:00 p.m. The funeral Mass will be held on Friday, June 10th at 10:00 a.m. Saint Bonaventure Church, 801 State Road, Plymouth.