Alene Mardel Lee

Alene Mardel Lee passed from this life into the next at the age of 95 on Thursday, June 21, 2018. Alene was born in Prussia, Iowa on November 4,1922. Her childhood and early years were spent in the midwest. One of her first jobs was as a war-ship welder during World War II in California. During the war she also worked as a purchasing agent for the military in Fort Jackson, South Carolina before being transferred to Germany.

In 1957 Alene transferred to the Orlando Air Force base. One evening out at the Young Adult Singles Club in Orlando, she was asked to dance by a young man named Jim Lee. “We just clicked and had so much fun,” she wrote in her memoirs. They were married on August 29, 1959 at First Baptist Church in Orlando.

Alene went back to school in 1975 and became a Licensed Practical Nurse. She loved nursing, but soon retired from that field to begin her favorite job, working with Jim as they started their own business. “I didn’t think life could get better than this,” she said, referring to that season of her life.

During that time Alene made the most important decision of her life, to follow Jesus as her personal Savior. She had a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ. She was very active in her church, Calvary Assembly in Winter Park, and spent many years as a Christian Counselor. During their marriage Jim and Alene were also members of the First Presbyterian Church of Maitland and First Baptist Church of Longwood.

During Jim and Alene’s 58 years of marriage, they enjoyed traveling all over the United States and made several trips to Hawaii and the Holy Land. One of her favorite memories was spending her 75th birthday in NYC with her daughters.

Alene was full of life and adventure, and she loved to laugh and entertain. She loved fashion, cooking and sewing, and was an excellent wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. She will be deeply missed by her husband Jim Lee, her children Patricia Hill, Mike Barnett and Suzanne Homan, and her 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

My Gamma

Yesterday morning my Gamma passed away peacefully in her sleep. She was 95 years old and lived her life to the fullest. When I would have to describe my Gamma to people who didn’t know her I would always say she is just like Lucille Ball! They could have been sisters or at least best friends! She was so full of joy, always smiling & laughing and of course cracking some sort of joke to someone 😊 She loved to throw parties and to just be around the people she loved. She was the life of the party. I was the youngest grandchild so unfortunately I don’t remember all the fun she used to have. But hearing my mom & my Aunt Pat talk about her and some of her funny stories would always make me laugh and wish I experienced more of that side of her.

She and my Granddad moved into an assistant living home last year, one close by to our family. Whenever I would go visit them she would repeat herself a lot saying things like “Hey Lilly I’m happy to see you! It’s so good to see you! It’s so good to have you here!” Then towards the end she would keep saying “are we going home yet? When am I going home?” I knew she was probably talking about her home back on Main Street. But now I can imagine Jesus reaching out for her hand saying, “Alene you are finally home. Welcome home.” ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

I love you so much Gamma and I’m so happy you are finally home with Jesus with a perfect mind again. I can picture a huge party 🎉going on up there right now with you most likely leading the conga line while singing the Chiquita Banana song because I DO remember you singing&dancing around to that song 😂 🙌🏽 🙏🏽 ❤️ I can’t wait to see you again! I love you & thank you for raising my mom because she is the best mom ever! Lilly Homan ( Granddaughter)

Presented by Grandson Ben Homan at Funeral:

Hi, my name is Ben Homan, I am one of Alene’s grandsons. I haven’t spoke at a funeral before; not quite sure of the rules. But I’ll try to be brief and just share a couple of stories how Alene influenced my life and may have influenced yours.

I learned a lot from my Grandma by her example. Some things she probably saw I picked up on; some I don’t think we ever mentioned - her life simply ingrained into mine slowley. One of those things is Generosity. Proverbs 11:24 says “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” Grandma certainly grew richer. Not in the abundance of things, but in her spirit.

For a few years right out of college I would go over and spend a few hours each Wednesday with my grandparents. I had an old failing Jeep that would get me there and back; and one day after some time passed she asked me if I liked her car? I said “yes, it was very nice.” She replied, “Do you want it?” I said “sure Grandma, let’s look and see how much it’s worth and I’ll try to put some money together.”

She quickly replied, “I don’t drive anymore, if you want it, you can just have it.” I said, “Grandma, I can't just take your car, let’s get a number together...” she quickly cut me off and said, “Well, I didn’t know if you really wanted it or not. I guess I can ask your brother, Scott.” “Woah, Woah, Woah” I said. “I’ll take it, don’t worry about Scott.”

And I joke; but that wasn’t a fluke for her. That was her giving nature. If she had no use for it, and someone else did, she would be the first to give it away

Another thing I learned from by Grandma on those many Wednesdays was how to bid correctly on the Price is Right. I’m not sure how practical that’s going to be, but man, she was as sharp as a tack. And she would give sass to those contestants so quickly, I would just envy it. I think she may have been the original quick wit.

But the thing that I’ll end with and what I am most thankful for, that I don’t think she ever knew, was how she was able to build my mom and my relationship. Let me tell you what I mean.

When I spent time with Grandma, I would watch and learn from her behavior. That sass and quick wit I just mentioned, I picked up on that and integrated into my conversations. We would sass each other, the folks on TV, just everyone really. We went back and forth and just had a blast. And I would have always had said my mom and I had a fine relationship, but I believe after spending so much time with my Grandma, my mom and I went from Mom and Son to friends.

And not just because I picked up on some sass, but because I liked my grandma. You guys are all here today because you liked Alene. I really liked who she was - her personality. She was fun, she was sharp, and a pleasure to be around. I see that in Pat and her communication style. Pat and I got to spend some time together recently, andPat, I don’t know if you felt it, but I feel that we just clicked. We didn’t have to move into a conversation, we were already there. And that’s because of Alene.

And I’ll end by saying, Mom, I see your mom in you and I’m so excited that when we spend time together and that my kids are growing up spending time you, Grandma will be there in that bond that bonds us so well. I love you. I love you both, and sorry that you lost your mom.

Presented by Grandson Scott Homan at Funeral

I remember my grandmother by her Kindness, Generosity, and Hospitality.

My memories of her are normally of Christmas eve, or visiting with her and my grandfather watching some Price is Right.

Thanking about what she would want me to share I believe it to be a conversation we had when I was younger.

I was at my grandparents to visit and I always loved to go over and get into my grandfathers office. His computer was in there so that was fun and he also had a tons of gifts and gadgets that we could play with and take home sometimes as well.

In my mind that was always a mission to get to, hang out with my grandfather and work on the computer.

But this visit was different, my grandmother started telling me her story. There was a brief lull in the conversation and I, being an idiot, looked at my grandfather and said something along the lines of “Want to go play on the computer?”

My grandfather redirected me and said, “you know why don’t we pay attention and see what else your grandmother has to say”.

That’s all it took, and I realized…these stories were important and not often shared.

That day I was given a brief picture of some of the hardships my grandmother went through when she was young. They were hard things that could easily define someone. Things that could keep them in a victim mentality for their entire life. Woah is me. Sadness. Depression. Lack of forgiveness.

I don’t remember her by any of these things. So I ask why?

I believe the answer to be her faith and trust in Jesus Christ that resulted in forgiveness of her sins before God and salvation for her soul.

So what do I believe she would want me to say to you today given this story?

Pain is relative, everyone has it. Wether it is past, present, or fear of the future. It doesn’t have to be your anchor or define you because Jesus Christ made a way for your identity to be in God rather than this world. This, I believe was displayed in my grandmother.

My memories of her are her kindness towards me and others around their living room. Her generosity at Christmas. And her hospitality when I would be in her home.

All these wonderful things were made possible because of Jesus in her life, and now she is made perfect with Him in heaven.