Alice Regina Houston

Alice Regina Houston

Holmdel - Alice Regina Houston of Holmdel passed away at age 73 on April 6, 2021 following a three-month-long battle with complications related to COVID-19.

Alice was an unforgettable woman who was loved by all, including her husband, three children, seven grandchildren, vast extended family, many friends, neighbors, and peers in the real estate industry. She was a fun-loving and happy person and wanted everyone around her to be happy as well - her magical presence and many thoughtful deeds helped make it so.

Born in Jersey City in 1947 to Vincent James Hermanns (decd. 1985) and Alice Hunter Hermanns (decd. 2002), Alice moved to the Bayshore area with her family in 1956. A 1965 graduate of Keyport High School, she lived in Union Beach, Keyport, and Hazlet, before settling in Holmdel with her husband Jim and their children in 1984. Alice is a communicant of St. Joseph, Jersey City, a confirmand of Holy Family, Union Beach, and a member of St. Catherine Church, Holmdel.

An accomplished career woman, early on Alice worked for the Monmouth County Action Program, Asbury Park, helping to empower Monmouth County families in need. She later worked as a supervisor and bookkeeper for the New Jersey Turnpike Garden State Parkway Authority before transitioning to help her husband Jim build a law practice in the Keyport/Hazlet area. Since earning her real estate license in 1986, Alice spent the last 35 years serving the residents of the extended Bayshore community as a top producing and award-winning real estate associate for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Her numerous work distinctions include receiving the NJ Realtors Circle of Excellence Sales Award each year since 1995, including just recently for the 2020 calendar year, and membership in the Distinguished Salesperson and Presidential Elite clubs. Honesty, integrity, determination, and dedication are the words her peers and clients use to describe her. Always with a smile and a willingness to help anyone, Alice will be dearly missed in the Bayshore real estate industry.

Alice loved her Saturday night dinners with Jim and spending time with her extended family, friends, and colleagues. She especially enjoyed her time with them when traveling, be it a destination holiday with her children and grandchildren, a sightseeing trip through Italy with her dearest friends, visiting out-of-state family and friends, or her award trips with her fellow recognized real estate colleagues. Alice was an amazing and generous host, and all enjoyed her frequent backyard barbecues beside the pool featuring her addictive mac & cheese, cherished Christmas Eve dinners, and challenging Easter egg hunts; her guests were frequently offered big, welcoming, and comforting hugs. A regular volunteer for her children's programs when they were growing up, including as a Girl Scout Leader and a softball coach, Alice also spent many years leading the cheers for her children and their teams, and then again for her grandchildren, on the sidelines and in the stands. She also led, and sometimes dragged, her family to the dance floor with her patented jitterbug moves at weddings and other celebrations. Alice always put others before herself; she also offered sound advice when asked, and sometimes when it was not asked, but was still greatly needed. She was fondly known to relish a cup of tea and a 20-minute nap before dinner, and at times enjoy a good glass, or perhaps two, of Pinot Grigio.

Alice leaves the happiest memories to her loving husband of 51 years, James F. Houston, and their adored children, for whom she would do anything to help them so they may enjoy a wonderful life: Michele Surdez of Colts Neck, her husband Paul; Ali Montello of Manalapan; and Christopher Houston of Southampton, his wife Sara. She spent very special one-on-one time with, and was so proud of, each of her seven grandchildren: Madalyn and Caitlin Montello; Colton and Jake Houston; and Will, Sam, and Molly Surdez.

The eldest daughter of ten children, Alice was not only the big sister, but she was the second mother, the best friend, the moral supporter, and the rock who stood with her family in good and challenging times. She is survived by all of her nine siblings: Vincent Hermanns (Linda) of Hazlet; Christine Montagna (Gaetano, decd. 1998) of Monroe; Mary Jane Hermanns of Sarasota, FL; Elizabeth Hermanns of Matawan; Julia Miller Seiden (Lawrence) of Asbury Park; Isabelle Brooks (David) of Myrtle Beach, SC; Janice Bolte (John) of Keyport; James Hermanns (Marybeth) of Myrtle Beach, SC; and Robert Hermanns (Cindy) of Midlothian, VA. Alice is also survived by her godsons and nephews Patrick Montagna and Russell Miller, as well as her other nieces and nephews: Vincent, Roxanne, Thomas, Eric, Stacey, Allen Jay, Victoria, Abigail, Benjamin, Allison, Amy, Melissa, Ian, Tate, Carly, Mandy, Bryan, and eighteen great-nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Senga Lynch (Thomas, Sr., decd. 2016) and her niece Samantha, and was predeceased by her nephew Thomas, Jr. (2016).

Visitation will be Friday, April 9th from 3:00-7:00 PM at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 S. Holmdel Road, Holmdel. A mass will be offered Saturday, April 10th at 10:30 AM at St. Catharine's Church, 108 Middletown Rd, Holmdel. A burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery, 360 Broadway, Keyport.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Alice's memory to Fulfill, the FoodBank of Monmouth Counties, at https://fulfillnj.org/ways-to-help/#donate-funds - (732) 918-2600.

To leave a message of condolence or to share a favorite memory please visit Alice's page at www.holmdelfuneralhome.com.

Kindly note for the health and safety of all guests, current state and local health protocols of social distancing and the wearing of facemasks are being strictly enforced.