Thursday, April 27, 2023
Reflections on Our Sister-In-Law, Friend and Sissy, Alice Anderson.
Ed and I send our condolences to Frank, Scott and all of Alice's family and step-family. Alice was a kind, lovely, engaging, generous and gracious women. She was a people person. She worked hard to maintain old and new relationships. Her smile was contagious. Alice lived a full life navigating through her ups and downs and musing complex questions. She was determined and courageous and her dedication and love for Frank, her family and friends was paramount. Carols' and Ed's memories and reflections are multiple and some are worth sharing.
It was approximately 18 1/2 years ago that our relationship and friendship with Alice Anderson commenced. Upon arrival at the Murray's Catawba Island home in Ohio, Frank introduced Alice to us. It was on the weekend of October, 2005 prior to the burial and the "Liturgy of Resurrection" for our sister, Mary Rose Puthoff.
Alice gazed at the scattered, messy family room area, cluttered with bibles, spiritual readings, hymn books and psalms, papers and funeral booklets along with tons of photos, clippings, poster boards, paste and scissors and quickly announced that she appointed herself as the Murray/Puthoff Kitchen Chief Operating Officer, Head Chef and Bottle Washer and the Gofer. From that moment on, our sharing and caring continued to be the pinnacle of our friendship and relationship.
The next six years, Ed and Carol would venture to Alice and Frank's New Jersey or Venice, Florida home to spend spring break with them. Alice was always accommodating, gracious and a supreme hostess. Once we purchased our Venice, condo, Alice would always see to it that the Murray refrigerator was fully stocked with necessary stables prior to our yearly seasonal arrival to Venice. Upon possession of our condo in 2011, it was Alice and Frank, who greeted our new couch, our new bedroom furniture plus many delivery persons and repair people.
Alice also assisted in the remodeling and design of our Catawba kitchen in 2016 by suggesting the removal of a garage wall. She was spot on.
Throughout these 18 1/2 years, we four were able to gather for numerous outings, events, various holidays, family dinners, birthdays, weddings, funerals, celebrations and also for many emergencies and illnesses. Our conversations centered upon the issues about social justice, climate change, politics, community needs and happenings, religious concerns and always updates about family and friends. Together, we shared our joys, pleasures, sadness, crisis and disappointments. We supported, listened, laughed, cried, argued and vented our frustrations, with respect and love.
Over the past years, Alice endured many different diagnosis, hospitalizations, surgeries, procedures and medications with increased suffering, intense pain and more decline. Her few 'good days' evolved into 'not so many good days' or 'shorter afternoons' or just 'a few hours' or 'a couple of minutes' away from her bed.
This past year, however, through determination, strength and spirit Alice was able to attend some family dinners and gatherings, in spite of her failing health and deteriorating physical conditions. She never complained.
Alice's death is bitter sweet. We are relieved Alice is free from her pain and suffering, but sad that the four of us will no longer share, laugh, cry or just be together. However, we will treasure our memories. Again Ed and I express our sympathies to Frank, Scott, and all of Alice's family and step-family. Alice is now at peace and is peaceful and comfortable.
"And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shone like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hand."
Carol A. Puthoff-Murray and Ed Murray
