Alison Kirschner Muzzy

Alison Kirschner Muzzy, 37, passed away peacefully in her home on November 1st, surrounded by her family.
Ali grew up in Augusta, in a beautiful home near the end of the road, with her parents and three sisters. She had many great years there and made wonderful friends before putting down permanent roots in Southern Maine. From those early years in Augusta to the life she built in Southern Maine, Ali remained true to herself.
Ali was a complex person-independent, caring, focused, warm, determined, silly. All of these words could be used to describe her in some moment or another. She did not fit neatly into a box, nor did she ever want to. She did what she thought was right and did not choose to live her life in a way that appeased anyone. She was authentically Ali. One of the most vivid expressions of her warmth and independence was her relationships with her dogs.
She absolutely adored her dogs-to the point where her eventual husband had to be screened by both of them (seriously) before she would consider a romantic relationship. She had a uniquely strong bond with her Great Dane, Brody. What started as taking him in at six years old to provide care in what seemed to be his final months turned into seven years of absolute love and devotion. She also had her loving girls: Kenzie the Yellow Lab and Oakley the Great Dane. Between those three dogs, she faced complex circumstances that would leave many feeling defeated. Instead, she spent countless hours learning how to take the absolute best care of them-and that's exactly what they received. The same determination and care showed up in every corner of her life.
Her depth was extraordinary, and only a select few were able to see how truly deep it was. Never one to seek attention, she always preferred the authenticity of a conversation with one person over the superficial attention of many. The bonds of her core relationships were virtually indestructible. She spoke of her sisters with the pride and love in which a parent speaks of their child. When her friends found happiness, it impacted her so deeply you'd think it was happening directly to her.
No matter what she did, she was going to make sure she did it well. When she first started looking for a home, she educated herself to the point that she eventually became a consultant to family and friends going through the home-buying process. When it was taking too long to find a contractor to finish the basement, she went to YouTube-and with no prior experience at all, constructed a space that left contractors in awe. When she set her mind on something, she was unstoppable. But beyond her talents and drive, what truly defined Ali was her instinct to care for others.
Ali's true calling was to be a caregiver. No matter what capacity she was in, that is what she did. She provided great care as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, coworker, and even as a complete stranger. She had no ulterior motives-her actions were completely instinctual. She literally jumped out of a moving car, ran under exposed power lines, and trudged through a bog in her dinner attire to help a woman who had gone off the road. Ali's depth wasn't just in her actions-it was also in her wit.
She had a sharp wit and a unique sense of humor that would catch people off guard. It was always fun to watch the surprise in someone when she came out with something they didn't expect-and it
typically caused the room to fill with laughter. Whether it was a joke, advice, an idea-whatever it may be-she was the type of person you'd listen to when she spoke. She was intentional about when she chose to contribute, which gave weight to each word. She connected deeply and quietly with those she loved.
She had the blessing of learning what love felt like right out of the gate. She grew up in a happy home with her parents and sisters: John, Cathy, then Jaimie, Nicky, and Mary-Margaret (Ali preferred using her full name). They grew up in the kind of home others wanted to be at-the kind of home you walked into and immediately felt the love of a family. The kind of home that hosted four unique, massive pool parties each summer so that each daughter got to have her own day. Ali learned how to love in that home, with her family.
Her last five years were the most important to her-those were the years she spent as a mother. Her loving, unyielding, full-throttled commitment to her son, Beau, is what every child deserves. Both he and she deserved much more time together, but what she gave to him in those five years could fill a lifetime. She absolutely loved being his mother. Whether it was figuring out educational options or finding him a new raincoat, she gave it her all.
As the man who hoped to spend his life with her, writing about her in the past tense breaks my heart. However, sharing her story fills me with love and pride. My wife was an incredible person in all ways. It was the privilege of a lifetime to build a life with her. We were supposed to have so much more time. But if given the choice between ten years and none, I would take the ten every time.
A celebration of life will be held on November 16th at A.T. Hutchins Funeral Home, 660 Brighton Avenue, Portland, Maine 04102 with a service starting at 11 a.m. and visiting hours afterwards until 2 p.m.
In lieu of donations, please consider helping your community in some way this holiday season. There are many people in need, and helping them would be meaningful to her. She would also appreciate a donation of your funds or your time to your local animal shelter. And she'd take any opportunity she could to remind people that senior dogs need homes too! Please consider them the next time you consider a pet-they deserve a happy home.