Alexander Raphael Provinse, beloved son, grandson, and nephew, was born November 25, 1994 to Darrell George Provinse and Rebecca Jean (Havens) Provinse. He was preceded in death by his grandfather William Provinse, his grandmother Lynette Provinse, his Aunt Shirley Provinse, and is survived by his uncle and aunts, Bill Provinse, Elisabeth Provinse, Nancy Walton, Judy Moser, Bobbie Miller, numerous cousins, and other Provinse and Havens family members.
Alexander was adored and cherished by many. His smile was infectious, his laughter was intoxicating, and his sense of mischief and playfulness were both delightful and irresistible. He was a passionate fan of the game show Jeopardy and had a lifelong love of the Jeopardy song, which dated back to his earliest years when he and his father would sit together and watch the game show every day after he awoke from his nap. His love of the Jeopardy song was known to all, including hospital staff, school teachers, Sunday school teachers, and anyone who came to know one of the sweetest and most loving individuals that has graced this planet. He enjoyed throwing balls, watching windshield wipers, and until he was no longer able to eat food by mouth, he delighted in cuisine of all kinds and had a very discerning palette.
Although he was somewhat limited in his mobility, in his life he was able to experience camping, white water rafting and rock climbing, all with the assistance of his father. He traveled to more than 20 states and was able to visit two amusement parks. He participated in Special Olympics and in the Easter Seals Telethon and his handsome picture was in a lot of the brochures and promo pictures for those events.
Alexander attended grade school at Jackson Park Elementary School in University City, he attended Litzinger School in his middle school years, and Parkway West for his high school years. He was loved by many and was well attended to, and arguably the star of, his senior prom. He attended Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church and in particular, Oaks Too, which is the Twin Oaks special needs Sunday school program.
Alexander suffered from a congenital condition resulting in Aqueductal Stenosis and Hydrocephalus, which causes cerebral spinal fluid to build up and put pressure on the still developing brain while in his mother’s womb. He was delivered two months prematurely, and endured six cutting edge, invasive brain surgeries within the first few months of his life. Throughout his life, Alexander suffered with a seizure disorder, cerebral palsy and both cognitive and physical delays. In his later years, besides the insertion and removal of a vagal nerve stimulator, shunt revisions, and a cranial reshaping, he was further afflicted with a severe episode of appendicitis, gastro paresis, and yet one more emergency shunt revision.
Alexander required a lot of care and attention, but those who gave it were rewarded with hugs and smiles and the sure and certain knowledge that their love and care were reciprocated. Over the course of decades, his ability to verbalize and communicate diminished, but he never stopped being loving, kind, caring, affectionate, or displaying a well-developed sense of humor and mischief. In most recent years, after each significant health event, he was never able to fully recover and, despite his family’s every hope for his recovery, he continued a slow and steady decline.
Most recently, Alexander spent two months in the ICU at Barnes Hospital, where he received quality care and was lovingly and professionally attended by the medical staff. His most recent stay at the hospital began on the 3rd of July, and ended on September 4th, 2023, when he went to be in the arms of his Lord, and many loving relatives who had gone before. When Alexander passed into the arms of his Lord, he was attended by his father and his loving Aunt Beth, who has stayed by his side and helped care for him for the past 14 years and even attended him in his hospital stay 24-7, whenever his father could not be present.
Alexander is now walking and leaping and praising God in Heaven. delighting and confounding everyone with his humor and mischief, and basking in the love and grace of his heavenly father.
We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. II Corinthians 5:8
Services: Funeral service at Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church, 123 Big Bend Road, Ballwin, Saturday, 11:00 a.m. Interment Laurel Hill Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Agape Christian Counseling Services, 12801 Flushing Meadows Dr., Ste 100, St. Louis, MO 63131. Visitation at Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church, Saturday from 9:30-11:00 a.m. Services entrusted to the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Road at Holloway, Ballwin. Friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.
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