Alice J. Palatas

Alice Jean (Olmstead) Palatas, 93, passed away peacefully July 6th, 2024 surrounded by her children.
Born to Lucy (Hamilton) and J.C. Olmstead in Bellevue, MI, she was the fifth of nine children. Growing up, Alice had many jobs including working at a beauty salon, movie theater and the local drugstore/soda fountain. Eventually she became acquainted with Dorothy and Bob Lane. The Lane's became a second family to Alice when she began regularly helping to run their household and care for their three children Bobby, Kay and Sue. After highschool, Alice graduated from Sparrow Nursing School in East Lansing as a Registered Nurse.
In 1954, Alice met her future husband and love of her life Michael Palatas who was attending Michigan State University. They married in 1955 and the following year Alice and Mike were blessed with twins Barry Michael and LuAnne D. Fresh out of college, the family moved to Greencastle, PA with Mike's new job at Corning Glass Works. In 1961 Lynn Marie was born and the family moved to Big Flats, NY near Corning headquarters. Alice truly became the rock of the family due to Mike's busy travel schedule, but over the years she did enjoy traveling with him to Europe, India and Brazil.
Mike and "Sweet Alice" as she became known, had a wonderful life in the Corning area and spent summers at the family cottage on Keuka Lake. When their children were grown, they became snowbirds spending summer at Keuka Lake and winters at Timber Pines Golf Club in Spring Hill, FL. In both locales Alice and Mike loved to entertain and have fun with their many close friends. Alice moved from Florida to Rochester, NY in 2017 to be closer to family.
Alice was a caring person and would look after the elderly at Keuka Lake part time. She was also a hospice volunteer in Florida. One of her favorite past times were puzzle books to keep her mind
sharp – which worked! She played bridge for many years and took up MahJong in Florida. Alice enjoyed shopping, following The Royal Family, reading articles on ways to stay healthy and collecting recipes. She was an accomplished cook and hosted many Gourmet Club dinners. Alice kept in touch with her sisters and their families in Michigan and would visit when she could. She was truly grateful for her wonderful life, but most of all she was grateful for her family.
Alice was preceded in death by husband Michael in 2013, daughter LuAnne Palatas Bentzoni in 1994, as well as by her parents, brothers Wendell and Everett, sisters Elizabeth, Edna, Helen and Sally. She was also preceded in death by Dorothy and Bob Lane, Sue and Jerry Lade and Bobby Lane. She is survived by her son Barry (Prudence) of Fairport, NY, daughter Lynn Delaney (Don) of Venice, FL, son-in-law Russ Bentzoni and his wife Cathy of Shortsville, NY, as well as sisters
Sue Wing and Ilene McDonald of Michigan, Kay Babbitt of Spring Hill, FL. Her grandchildren include Nicole Bentzoni Wolf (Charlie), Lee Bentzoni (Kim), Karen Palatas Thering (Steven), Greg Palatas (Mike Hanss), Chris Delaney (Pam) and Michael Delaney (Jay Johnson). Alice had nine great-grandchildren: Olivia, Cameron and Griffin Thering; Esther LuAnne Wolf; Cora, Sawyer and Remi Bentzoni; Connor and Lauren Delaney. Alice was also blessed with many, many loving nieces and nephews.
A mass celebrating Alice's life will be held Saturday, July 27th at 9:30 a.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church in Pittsford, NY. On Tuesday, July 30th she will be interred with the love of her life at Bath National Cemetery at 11 a.m. Friends and family are welcome to attend one or both services. Kindly text your attendance intentions to Lynn Palatas Delaney 585-469-4369 or Barry Palatas 585-730-9503. Contributions in Alice's memory can be made to The Open Door Mission,156 Plymouth Ave.Rochester, NY 14608 www.opendoormission.com or Saint's Place, 46 South Main Street, Pittsford, New York 14534 www.saintsplace.org.