Caregiver

Alice was the primary caregiver for her parents for more than 30 years, visiting them every week to take care of their every need. In 1972 her mother suffered a permanently disabling stroke, and in 1985 had open heart surgery to replace the mitral valve. Alice was there by her bedside every day providing love and support and making sure her mother got the best possible care. After her mother’s death, her father began to fade away and developed dementia. Alice remodeled her house to accommodate him and he lived with her for several years before his condition deteriorated to the point that he required the attention and skills that she could not provide at home. He died in 2008, surrounded by loving faces.

Alice was extremely close to her father’s sister, Aunt Irene (back row, center). She visited her often in her home and loved to spend time with her. She fought in court to help Aunt Irene keep her mentally ill son Eric from continuing to abuse his mother both verbally and physically, and to prevent Eric from inheriting her house after she died. There are multiple witnesses of this abuse who have written letters and given depositions on Alice’s behalf. Alice is a champion of justice and cannot tolerate seeing anyone suffer abuse or injustice. Aunt Irene passed away in 2014 and Alice was devastated.

Alice and Irene planned this memorial video tribute for Irene’s funeral. Irene picked the verses, the music and the images, because they were her favorite things, but Alice created it.