[Original Mike]

My neighbor lady died over the weekend. We had the viewing for "Alice" last night and her funeral was this morning.

Alice was born during the darkest days of the Great Depression, the youngest of four children. When she was a baby, her father died in an accident. Her mother was left with four children and no skills during the Depression. To keep her family together, she placed her children in a local childrens' home/orphanage and took a job there as a cook so she could see her children every day. Alice spent the majority of her childhood in this home.

When she was a teenager, she met "Larry", who became the love of her life. As soon as she finished high school, they married and bought a small house on a country road. The house didn't even have indoor plumbing! She would remain in this home until her death. Larry and Alice had five children. Even though he didn't make a great deal of money, Larry insisted that Alice stay home to raise their children.

Shortly after moving into their house, another couple began building a house across the road from them. As soon as the house was completed, my grandparents and their five children moved in. Despite a twenty-year age difference, teenaged Alice and Larry became fast friends with "Red" and "Mae". This friendship would continue until Mae's death nearly fifty years later.

Red and Mae's two youngest children were "Charlie" (age 9) and "Wes" (age 5). Since Mae had to work, Alice became the baby-sitter for the two young boys. Not only did it earn her some much-needed money, but my grandmother never worried about her boys when they were with Alice.

Alice watched as Red and Mae's children and her own children grew up and began to leave home. Soon, Mae would tell her that she and Red were moving away, but that Charlie was buying the house and would be moving in with his wife Carol and his two-year-old son Mike. Red died less than two years later, leaving Alice and Larry to mourn the loss of their good friend.

After Charlie and his family moved in, Alice became the regular babysitter for Mike. As with Red and Mae, she and Larry became good friends with Charlie and Carol. Alice would come over every Saturday morning for coffee, and Charlie would take Larry fishing on his days off. When Charlie undertook major renovations to the house, Larry was constantly there to lend a hand. Soon, Charlie and Carol had a daughter and Alice also took on the task of sitting for Kim.

When he was in his forties, Larry was diagnosed with an illness that forced him to stop working and to go on disability. To support their family, Alice entered the workforce and took a line job at night at a local factory. She would stay there until she retired twenty years later. Larry died at fifty-three, leaving Alice with a low-paying job, two children still at home, and debt.

As she entered late middle-age, Alice's children all left the nest, two staying local and three moving to other states. Across the street, Mike and Kim were also growing up. Alice was there for all of their events: birthdays, graduations, prom pictures. When Kim got married, Alice was walked down the aisle as a grandmother and sat in the front pew with Charlie and Carol and Mae.

A few years later, Charlie was diagnosed with cancer. Alice made daily trips across the street to check in. As Charlie's health continued to fail, Alice did anything she could for Carol: helping to run errands, sending over food, and just sitting with Charlie when Carol needed to get away for a short time. As with Red and Mae, the time soon came to say good-bye to Charlie. Alice cried so hard at his funeral as the police honor guard presented his folded flag to Carol and Taps was sounded.

Shortly after Charlie's passing, a new arrival showed up on the country road. Mike had adopted a young boy named C. As she had done for Mike and for Charlie before him, Alice became C's regular sitter. She had now sat for three generations of the same family. A few years later, Carol told Alice that she was retiring and selling the house to Mike so she could move into a condo near many of her friends. Once again, Alice watched the house across the street pass to another generation.

Alice continued to talk to Mike regularly by phone, as the infirmities of old age made it harder to walk the long distance between the houses. C would also stop in to see her on his way home from the bus stop after school. She never forgot C's birthday or the birthdays' of Kim's children.

As she entered her late seventies, Alice's health began a steady decline. She began to get forgetful, sometimes even seeming lost in another time. Her unmarried son returned home to care for her, so she would not have to leave the home she had moved into as a teenaged bride so many decades before. At Christmas in 2008, she was unable to join Caol, Mike and Kim for Christmas Eve the first time in almost twenty years. Soon, a fast-spreading cancer was found.

Finally, she had to leave her home for the hospital. Her children and grandchildren began to gather from around the country. Eventually, she slipped into a coma. Carol and Kim came to say their good-byes, but Mike couldn't bring himself to go. It was too hard. Alice slipped away peacefully on Friday night with both of her daughters at her side.

Carol, Mike, and Kim came to the funeral home to pay their respects. After seeing how peaceful she looked in a beautiful suit and surrounded by flowers, they sat down to watch the memorial video of photographs that have become the newest thing at funerals. Amidst the photos of Alice's days in the orphanage, her early married life, her children, her 25th Wedding Anniversary, her grandchildren, and her 50th class reunion were two other photos: Alice with Mike at his college graduation and Alice with Kim at her wedding. At this point, the tears flowed freely from both Mike and Kim.

Now, as I look across the street, Alice's house is dark. There is no TV on in the living room and the porch lights are not on. I start to wonder if her prized peonies will bloom this spring. For the first time in more than sixty years, Alice is not there. She has gone Home.

[momraine]

What a beautiful testament to her life. I hope you have shared this with her family. I attended the funeral of a friend just yesterday. It's so hard to be left behind. I will keep Alice's family (which includes you and your sons and your sister) in my prayers.

[Lylac]

Hugs Mike! Your words are beautiful. I'm sorry that your friend passed. But she'll always be with you in your heart. She sounds like an awesome lady to know and love.

[skirbo]

This was a beautiful and moving tribute to someone who was obviously very special. You brought me to tears.

Hugs and condolences.

Sarah

[mrsred]

((Mike)) Picture her happily reunited wth the many loved ones she had lost. That is what gets me trhough my saddest days when I am missing Dad (who was received January 26). I see my sister Connie, who died 33 years ago at he age of 21 running up and throwing her arms around Dad's neck.

[stilldeciding]

What a wonderful story of love and life. It is so amazing to me how one life can touch so many people. It just goes to show, that one person CAN make a difference. It is those kind of people that make the world a brighter place. Truly she will be missed. I know my Dad, who passed away suddenly in 1997 at the age of 62 made the difference in MY life! Both him and My Mom and stepDad who are now in their 70s have made my life and who I am today, thank God for these wonderful people that God has blessed us with! Thanks for the story...its yet another reminder, that people and those that we love are the most important thing in life, next to God!

[saj]

Mike,
I sat here reading your post with tears streaming dpwn my cheeks. I was so moved by your tribute to "Alice" that I took a peek at your profile. Concerning your dream job: I just wanted to say, "You are an author." Keep writing. Also, I notice that we are from the same neck of the woods. Its windy as "HE..double tooth picks" this morning.

I am sorry for your loss,

Most sincerely,

Saj

[Indy]

Well said and I mourn your loss with you.

[kretzklan]

What a wonderful comment on an incredible life - please do share that with her 'other' family if you haven't already. It's so obvious from your words what she meant to you.

[kay]

What a beautiful remembrance, Mike. I'm sorry for your loss, but your sharing made us all able to share in a remarkable life. Thank you.

[athikers]

wow! what a GREAT life to have shared with her

I'm sorry for your loss.

[aMarylandfamily]

Losing anyone close is hard but even more difficult when that person touched so many facets of your life ... my sympathies are with you and all the family.

Wasn't it this time last year that your police officer friend left us (or getting close to it)? Another one who touched your world - but our lives are so much richer and more by those who do touch us - if for a long or a short time!

Know we understand and thank you for the tribute you wrote - you will be in our thoughts and prayers - know a part of her will live on always in you!

[manni28]

That was beautiful.

Manni

[stevenstwin]

That was very moving, Mike! My condolences on the loss of a wonderful lady who was obviously much more than a neighbour!

[Kelly Rae]

Wow, how blessed you have been to have such a friend. I'm so sorry for your loss.