Alice Louise Avila

Alice LouIse Avila was born in Lemoore on August 3, 1927, to James and Mary Meirelles, and passed away at the age of 82 on Friday, October 2, 2009, in Hanford surrounded by her family. Alice lived in the outskirts of Lemoore until her parents moved the family to the city of Hanford in 1936. While living in Hanford she attended Jefferson School (First grade, Second grade, Third grade, and ½ of Fourth grade); the old Hamilton School (½ of Fourth Grade, Fifth Grade, and Sixth Grade); Woodrow Wilson (Seventh and Eighth Grades); and Hanford High School (Four Years). While in high school Alice worked as a cashier at Peden's Cafe which was located on Seventh Street. She lived in Hanford until she married Jerry on October 14, 1950, and moved to the family ranch on Sixth Avenue, east of Burris Park. There they raised eight children. From 1950-1953, Alice worked at the Hanford Planing Mill in Hanford which was owned by her father. Alice was involved in Religious Education (CCD) Programs for 22 years, where she not only taught, but was the Director in Hanford and Kingsburg. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Kingsburg. From 1969 to 1981, Alice was a member of the Board of Trustees for Kings River-Hardwick School. In 1993, Jerry and Alice moved to the city of Kingsburg. After Jerry passed away in 1997 Alice remained in Kingsburg until April 2005, when she moved to the Nazareth House in Fresno. In April of 2007, Alice moved to Casa Grande Senior Care & Assisted Living in Visalia. In September 2009 Alice was moved to Hacienda in Hanford. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Christina Avila in 1960; her husband, Jerry Avila in 1997; her parents, James and Mary Meirelles; and her brothers, Fernando Meirelles, and Abel Meirelles. Alice is survived by fours sons and four daughters; Bert Avila and his wife Margie, and Jonathan Avila and his wife Erin of Kingsburg, Jim Avila and his wife Mary Lynn of Lemoore, Christopher Avila of Tehachapi, Carolyn Nunes and her husband Gilbert of Hanford, Julie Bell, and Mary-Alice Avila-Seiden and her husband Stuart of Visalia, and Elizabeth Dadigian and her husband Bruce of Buellton; grandchildren, Matthew Avila and his wife Lana, and Todd Avila (Bert's children), Jacquie Ediger and her husband Jeremy, and Jamie Bell (Julie's children), Rishon and Alyse Seiden (Mary-Alice's children), Travis and Cassidy Dadigian (Elizabeth's children), Christina Thomas and her husband DJ, and Jennifer Nunes (Carolyn's children), Jared, Brandon and Kacie Avila (Jim's Children), and Alexandra and Charlotte Avila (Jonathan's children); one great-granddaughter, Addison Thomas (Christina and DJ's child); her second great-grandchild due in April 2010 (Christina and DJ's child); a sister, Aldine Rapozo of Fresno; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The Avila family would' like to thank the staffs at the Nazareth House in Fresno, Casa Grande Senior Care & Assisted Living in Visalia, Hacienda in Hanford, and Jacqueline Madrigal who took such wonderful care of Alice during her illness. Visitation will be held at Creighton Memorial Chapel in Kingsburg on Wednesday, October 7, 2009, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Recitation of the Holy Rosary and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Kingsburg on Thursday, October 8, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. A Graveside Service will follow at the Kingsburg Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Alzheimer's Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, Maryland 20871. CREIGHTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL 1588 Lincoln Street Kingsburg, Ca. (559)897-2908