Alice E. Kolwaite

1939 - 2025

Alice E. Kolwaite, 85, of Whitesboro, passed away September 14, 2025, at Eastern Star Nursing Home, after a courageous battle with chronic scleroderma for many years.

She was born, November 15, 1939 at home on the family farm in Madison, NY, the daughter of Frank and Caroline Gacek Stolarcyk. Alice graduated from Madison Central School and Utica School of Beauty Culture where she worked for a short time as a beautician for Clairol. Shortly after, she was introduced to Rod Kolwaite. They were married on May 23, 1959; a blessed union of 64 years. Once married, Alice gave birth to 3 children, William, Wendy and Dawn. She then attended Mohawk Valley Community College and SUNY Upper Division graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. As a nurse, she worked for Faxton Hospital and then Marcy State Hospital before being hired at Central New York Psychiatric Center in Marcy, NY. Alice joined the Army Reserve Nurse Corps and served for 8 years, then joined the Naval Reserve Nurse Corps and served for over 4 years. Within that time, she was called to serve active duty during Desert Storm for 9 months stateside in Virginia. During her time in service, Alice achieved the rank of Lt. Commander. In 1995 Alice retired from Central New York Psychiatric Center as Director of Nursing.

After retiring, Rod and Alice moved south to live in Pensacola, FL., then Greensboro, SC., before moving back to Whitesboro, NY in 2003. Each time they moved, Alice creatively designed and built a beautiful new home. She loved to travel, and was grateful to visit the many places in the U.S. and throughout the world. Alice loved to garden and treasured her flower garden. She was blessed with a green thumb. Alice was talented in many other hobbies like painting, sewing and overall, her cooking.

She was of the Catholic faith and attended St Paul's Catholic Church, as well as attending the Divine Mercy Prayer Group for many years.

She is survived by three children, son, William Kolwaite and wife Laura of Floyd; daughters, Wendy Kolwaite of New Hartford, and Dawn Mazza and husband Fred of Floyd; grandchildren, William Kolwaite Jr., Brian Kolwaite and partner, Anastasia Crossen, Sarah and Jason Failing; several great-grandchildren; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Alan and Nancy Kolwaite of Alabama; nieces, nephew and cousins.

The family would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation of the excellent care and compassion given to Alice during her short time at Eastern Star Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be Friday, 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Church, 16 Park Ave., Whitesboro, where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated. There will be visitation at Dimbleby Funeral Home, 40 Main St., Whitesboro, from 8:00-9:00 a.m., Friday, prior to the mass. Interment will be in St. George Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to National Scleroderma Foundation.

Memorial tributes and messages of sympathy may be left at www.dimblebyfh.com.