Alice Joan Dowd

Alice, Al, Mommy, Mom, Ma, Aunt Alice, Grandma, My Queen, Chicken Little, My Mama, Sweet lady, Miss Alice.

Alice was a force. She held so much strength, courage, wisdom and love in that little body of hers. She was often referred to as classy, a tough cookie, so much spunk, people would say. So much beauty.

Beyond what anyone could see with their eyes but could always feel when she looked at you and listened to you, smiled and laughed with you. To know her was to love her. To laugh with her was a memory that so many are blessed to have. Her STRENGTH was impressive.

Her ability to remain determined and focused always amazed those around her and all who knew her. She would say, nearly every day, “I just keep plodding along.” She did more than plod along though, she got up every day, got dressed, put her makeup on and did her hair, it was always about the hair! That was very important to her, she would jokingly say “Im so vain!” Even when she felt awful, she would always, at the very least, get up and wash her face and that always made her feel better. She would not lay around in pajamas all day or watch daytime TV. No, she was reading, doing a crossword, watching the stock market and strategizing, always strategizing. How to make the best of her day, be the most productive she could be. She always had a zillion lists and checking them off one by one was of much importance but that didn’t keep her from always prioritizing us, her family and her friends whom she treated as family. We were the most important, we were always at the top of her list. Her COURAGE was astonishing.

She did the hard things, the right things, even if it was hard, she made sure to do whatever it was that showed her integrity. It was inspiring to us all. Mom always referred to her young self as a wallflower and I never understood that. She was courageous every day, living and working in NYC, traveling and moving to another state away from home to begin a new life. Courage in building a new home, meeting new friends and taking on new roles as wife, mother, best friend and colleague. She began playing tennis and playing bridge with a whole new group of friends. She helped out in my school as much as she could, she gave of herself to her friends when they needed her support, when they needed a glass of wine and she also threw fabulous parties and what a cook! Her food was always so delicious and she put her heart and soul into her specialties because we all loved them, especially one in particular, Eggplant Parmesan! Or Parmesan Egg as some would call it. 🙂 Everyone knew my Mom and Dad in the neighborhood. often in the garden or on the tractor. She showed courage every day of her life especially in her later years, taking such great care of Dad when he started to decline.

She was always there. She went to church with Dad every Sunday, Catholic church, even though she was not a Catholic herself. She was as devoted to it as Dad because she was devoted to the love of her life, our Dad. Mom was always showing courage in the face of fear of the unknown. She was a Super woman! Her love for fun and laughter was contagious.

My entire life she made me laugh so much. Always up for a game of Scrabble or doing the NY Times Sunday crossword puzzle while we drank coffee in the morning that would usually end up stretching into the afternoon. She loved the beach and listening to the waves, even when it started to rain, we would sit under the umbrella together and just talk and talk and laugh. Sitting at the kitchen table or on the deck or the screened porch watching the birds and butterflies. A yellow butterfly was always Grandma checking on us.Marty and Bobby used to come home from school or the Navy on weekends and help Dad teach Mom all about the game of football. She became a REDSKIN SUPER FAN!! Redskins…NOT the Commanders! She very rarely missed a game and she refused to record it like her friends Harry and Sally Jones did. 🙂 She knew more and became more excited about games than any of us, then she started watching all the other teams as well, even her most hated team the Dallas Cowboys.

Her WISDOM knew no bounds.

So smart but also so strategic in her life. So very wise, she taught me a very valuable lesson at a young age. She would say “you have to put yourself in other people’s shoes” , she would explain to me how to try your best to look at life from other people’s point of view to understand them better. She always knew the right thing to say to help me overcome a problem I was having or just make me feel better. I can only assume by the tons of friends and family that reached out to her constantly that she did the same for them.

My Mom always said, always said…”All I ever wish for you is to be truly happy”. Well, Mom, thanks to you and your encouragement and prayers, so very many prayers, you got your wish. Even though you are no longer on this earth I know you are always in our hearts. Love you Mom.

A Visitation will be held at Brown Wynne Cary to celebrate the life of Alice Dowd on Thursday, June 13, 2024 from 4:00-6:00 pm.

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