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555 West Amador
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Alice was born at home in Ferndale, MD to Paul & Alice Gray Johancen on October 30, 1931. She was welcomed by one brother, Howard, and many Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. Her Mother was the youngest of 13 children. During the depression the family moved to Pennsylvania where her father found work. Her sister, Joan was born there. When the family moved back to Ferndale they were able to buy back the same house that was lost during the depression.
Alice met her beloved husband, George, on a Baltimore boat as her family and friends went to a beach and amusement park. At this time she was a telephone operator, though George was still in high school. They married at Ferndale Methodist Church in 1952 and lived in the area until he was drafted during the Korean War. Alice traveled with him to New Jersey, Alabama, New Mexico and California. She worked in civil service jobs during that time.
Janet & Paul were born while George was in college at the University of MD. After graduation, George was offered a job at White Sands. Alice was reluctant to leave Maryland, family and crab cakes, but of course, she did, moving to Las Cruces in 1959. They added Don to their family in 1963.
Alice worked at Director of Education at St. Paul's Methodist Church for 10 years, during that time she attended SMU in Dallas and was consecrated a Diaconal Minister. When the Diaconate was phased out she had the opportunity to become an Ordained Deacon. She was the first woman so ordained in the United States.
Alice started college at NMSU in 1968 and after 10 years received her bachelors degree in Gerontology and English. She was the first local person hired at University Terrace Good Samaritan Village as the Assistant Administrator. She earned a NM Nursing Home Administrators License and after almost 20 years there, retired as Director of Resident Services, a job she loved very much. During that time, she served on the board of Nursing at NMSU. She was also one of the founders of the Academy of Learning in Retirement. She served on the Landsun Board, a retirement community in Carlsbad, owned by the New Mexico Methodist Conference.
After retirement, she and George traveled to Europe, Hawaii and South America. They also traveled to see their five grandchildren, Josh & Gwen Miller, the children of Janet & Rick, Anja, daughter of Don & Jeanette, and George T. & John, children of Paul and Maureen. She and George enjoyed them all and love them dearly.
Alice and Josh are big Dallas Cowboy fans and have attended games together (sometimes with Gwen). They also traveled to Dallas for the last game played in Texas Stadium. She greatly enjoyed the fact that Josh & Gwen attended NMSU, came for dinner and games and had lots of fun together.
Alice wrote the above in 2008, shortly after showing early signs of Alzheimers. She battled with grace and dignity for 10 years and died with that same grace & dignity on February 28, 2018 in Las Cruces, NM.
A memorial service to celebrate Alice's life will be held on Saturday, March 24th at 1:00pm at St. Paul's Methodist Church, 225 W. Griggs, Las Cruces, NM. A reception will follow at 2:30 at Good Samaritan Las Cruces Village, Social Center, 3011 Buena Vida Circle, Las Cruces NM. Rev. Paul Duerksen & Rev. Gorton Smith will officiate the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Alzheimer's Association PO Box 21400, Albuquerque, NM 87154
Arrangements are with LaPaz-Graham's Funeral Home. To sign the online guest book visit: www.lapaz-grahams.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by LCsun-news.com.
1 Entry
Mrs. Helfrich, was a very good and understanding person,who care d very much..She will be dearly missed.
Leticia Fickes
March 24, 2018
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Perches - Graham's Funeral Home (La Paz - Graham's Funeral Home)555 West Amador, Las Cruces, NM 88005
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