Alice Gallagher

When reflecting on the life of Alice Gallagher it is amazing to see how one woman can make such a huge impact on the lives of others. She was intentional in the way she lived her life and intentional in the way she loved those around her. No matter what she was doing, Alice always made the time for others since putting the needs of others ahead of her own was something that came naturally to her. When it came to her children, she was their biggest cheerleader in whatever their lives brought them and when her family grew to include grandchildren, Alice couldn’t have been happier. She had a heart that beat for children and was both fair and tolerant when it came to dealing with others. A woman who was extraordinarily beautiful on the inside and out, Alice’s memory will remain forever near and dear to the hearts of those she leaves behind.

The year 1934 was in the midst of the Great Depression and one of the years that was the toughest for countless Americans. Jobs were hard to come by and those who were working were doing so for less than half of what they earned before the onset of the depression. To make matters worse, Mother Nature further crippled the nation with a drought in the Midwest that left dust bowls in countless states in her wake. Despite these trying times, life couldn’t have been better on December 11th of that year for the family of Edgar and Eleanor (Fernholz) VanElls since they were blessed with the birth of a healthy baby girl they named Alice. Born in Bengal Township, Alice was the middle of 15 children in her family and was baptized at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns. Her father was a farmer while her mother had her work cut out for her with caring for their household that was a bustle of activity. Alice and her younger siblings had fun playing tricks on their older siblings’ dates whenever the opportunity arose. She attended country schools and went on to Rodney B. Wilson High School where she enjoyed all sports, especially watching a certain young man play football. It was in high school that she met the young man with whom she would build the life she loved. His name was Dennis Gallagher.

By the time she finished high school, Alice was hopelessly in love with Dennis, and he had carved their initials into a wooden doorway in his father’s barn. The couple was married on April 30, 1955, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, marking the beginning of a new chapter in a love story that would span more than 40 years. After a honeymoon in the Upper Peninsula, the couple settled down into married life. Dennis was a carpenter and a farmer while Alice worked as a secretary and then for a couple of years at Saylor-Beall in St. Johns. Her career later took her to Federal-Mogul where she worked in data processing for 34 years before retiring. Alice was a dedicated employee who hated missing work, even when she was sick.

Although she took great pride in her work, nothing was of greater value to Alice than caring for her family. After they had been married for just over a year, she and Dennis welcomed their first child, Michael. Their family later grew to include, Maurine and Patrick. Alice and Dennis had a marriage that most only dream of. He showered her with gifts and they loved to polka together, creating a scene that was beautiful to watch. As mothers go, Alice was the best as she had patience that never seemed to run dry and was always there to encourage her children in everything they did.

There was rarely a dull moment when Alice was around. She was always the life of the party, could be loud but funny, and was willing to do just about anything to get a laugh. Alice always made everyone feel welcome and believed in the philosophy of the more the merrier. Alice was fair and non-judgmental in dealing with others, but never gave herself enough credit. She made Christmas such a special time of year as it was her favorite holiday and her home was tastefully decorated. Being a grandmother was a role she cherished, and she always wanted to hear about what was going on in her grandchildren’s lives. Alice embraced a few traditions including fried bologna on Friday nights, holidays complete with homemade pies, and grandchildren singing a song before they could open gifts on Christmas. In 1971, Alice and Dennis bought a cottage on Houghton Lake. Alice absolutely loved it there and this became her "Summer Home". She always had a freezer full of popsicles for the area children, and they regularly had “happy hour,” too.

Throughout her life, Alice enjoyed a diverse palette of interests. She was creative and an excellent seamstress who could often start a pantsuit after work and then wear it to the office the next day. Alice loved to quilt and frequented the Soaring Eagle Casino as gambling was an activity she liked.

Those who loved Alice Gallagher will miss so much about her now that she is gone. She was always available to talk and to offer a warm smile that could light up even the darkest of days. Alice wholeheartedly threw herself into whatever task was at hand and was always willing to bend the rules for others, but not so much for herself. She liked to fish, sew, and visit the local casino, but nothing was better than spending time with her family. Alice was a remarkable woman who lived a remarkable life and in doing so, created a breathtaking array of memories that will be forever treasured by all who knew and loved her.

Alice M. Gallagher died on Monday, October 25, 2010. Alice’s family includes her daughter, Maurine (Ron) Mitchell of St. Johns, two sons, Michael (Sheryl) Gallagher of Fowler, and Patrick (Linda) Gallagher of St. Johns, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She also has seven sisters, Donna Kuripla, Jo Rogers, Rita Thelen, Thelma Miller, all of St. Johns, Helen Zezza of New Jersey, Dorothy (Carl) Witt of Dewitt, and Ruth Hufnagel of Lansing, two brothers, Jim VanElls of Florida, and Mike (Peg) VanElls of St. Johns, and two sister’s in law, Mary Pat (Gene) Hamilton of Saginaw, and Rosie Van Ells of Fowler. Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis in 1998; her sister, Arlene Walling; and four brothers, William, Dick, Tom and Dale VanElls. Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 29, 2010, at Osgood Funeral Home, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Rev. Fr. Eoin Murphy officiating. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m., Wed. and 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., Thurs. at the funeral home. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or make a memorial donation to St. Vincent De Paul or Sparrow Hospice.