Alice Abrams

Alice Abrams was a lovingly devoted wife, mother and grandmother, who always gave selflessly to enrich the lives of those she loved. Devoted to both family and faith, she spent her life working tirelessly both inside and outside the home, but was always able to enjoy the simple beauties in life.

The Great Depression dominated American life in the 1930s. The average income decreased 40% in four years, and hard times caused some people to question democracy and capitalism. By the end of the decade, however, World War II would revive the economy and bring American’s closer together. It was in the middle of these turbulent times that Alice was born on January 2, 1935, in the agriculturally rich city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. She was the second youngest of six children in her family, and grew up in the company of her siblings: Dorothy, Ella, Betty, Evelyn and William. Fun and full of life, Alice was a cheerleader at Osnabrook High School, where she graduated in 1953.

Alice would often spend her summers visiting her older sister in South Haven, Michigan, and it was here that she met her first husband, Richard Beauchamp. They fell in love and were happily married on November 27, 1954. While settling into married life together in Kalamazoo, Richard worked at National Waterlift and Alice became a nurses’ aid at South Haven Hospital. Over the next several years, the couple was blessed with 6 wonderful children: Kathryn, Cindy, Richard, Lori, Scott and Devin, who brought great pride and joy. Family was always Alice’s first priority, and with 6 children, she was always busy, cooking, baking, sewing and cleaning. For fun, the family enjoyed going camping in their pop-up camper at the Beech Grove Campgrounds in Marcellus. To help supplement the family’s income, Alice worked part-time at the Shakespeare Co. for a while before going to work in food service at Western Michigan University for 11 years. Sadly, Alice lost her beloved husband Richard on November 15, 1989, after 35 years of marriage.

But Alice would find love again in the fall of 1990, when she met Jack Abrams at a singles dance. They fell in love that night and were married the next summer on July 13, 1991, at St. Mary’s in Marcellus. They then whisked off on a romantic Caribbean cruise honeymoon. When Alice and Jack were wed, it symbolized not only the merging of two lives but also of two families. Alice had her six children and Jack had seven, making them one big family.

As a couple, Alice and Jack loved to travel, and even spent a few winters in Edinburg, Texas. They went camping as often as possible at Beech Grove, and liked to fish in Cedar and Big Fish Lakes. They also loved to dance until her knees and his back gave out. Always active, Alice was constantly on the go doing something, whether it was having lunch with a friend, going shopping or trying her luck playing bingo or the slots. In her quieter moments at home, she was a faithful watcher of her soap operas and got some good recipes surfing the food channels. Alice was also a big fan of the Detroit Tigers, and loved watching the hummingbirds at her feeders or by her flowers.

About 3 years ago, Alice was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and blood disorder, and also suffered with heart palpitations. All of these illnesses eventually took its toll on Alice’s body, and her health began to severely decline last November. Through it all, Jack was vigilantly by her side and tenderly cared for her until the end. Alice died on Monday, May 12, 2008, at the age of 73.

Alice will be deeply missed, but her kindness, compassion and dedication to family endure as an example to all who knew her.

Learn more about Alice, view her Life Story film, and visit with her family and friends on Friday, May 16, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (375-2900). Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, May 17, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Ambrose Catholic Church. Following the mass, food and fellowship will be shared in the parish hall. Cremation will follow with burial in West Cooper Cemetery.

Alice was preceded in death by her first husband, Richard P. Beauchamp. Surviving is her husband of 17 years, Jack Abrams; 13 children: Kathryn Owens, Cindy Rogers (Rusty Smith), Richard (Mary) Beauchamp, Lori Worden (Jonathan Ayling), Scott Beauchamp, Devin Beauchamp, Patricia Bowman (Ray), Jim (Colleen) Sherman, Pamela Jewel, Richard Abrams (Dawn), Jackie Abrams (Dawn), Andrea (Eric) Kruger and Jack Charles Abrams; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Please visit Alice’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may share a memory or photo with her family or sign her online guest book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Kidney Foundation or American Heart Association.