On Thursday, December 13, 2018, Alice Josephine Appleman, 94, passed away peacefully at her home in Austin, TX surrounded by loved ones and her loyal dog, Kiko. Alice was the beloved wife of her one and only love of 48 years, the late Stratton “Strat” Appleman. She was also preceded in death by her children John, Mary, Charles and Edward as well as her siblings, Naola (Edward) McDermott and Bill (Mariam) Spelman.
Alice was born on November 14, 1924 in Chicago, IL. She married Strat when he returned from WWII on July 21, 1945 in Fort Wayne, IN. Strat’s career in the Air Force took them to a variety of posts, including Japan, until Strat retired from the Air Force in 1964 when they settled in McLean, VA. Alice was kept busy raising her family of six boys and five girls; but she let others hear her beautiful voice by singing in the choir at St John the Great Catholic parish for several years. When she went back to work, all who knew her found it appropriate and ironic that the mother of eleven would work at the Office of Population at the Agency of International Development. She worked there as a clerk stenographer for 16 years until she and Strat retired to Rockport, Texas. After Strat’s death, Alice moved several times, finally settling in Austin, TX in 2002 to be near four of her children.
A voracious reader, classical music lover and a devotee of the paper’s daily crossword puzzle, Alice’s real passion was her family. She was a good listener and always had wonderful advice to give to her children, whether they wanted it or not! Alice loved life and always had a smile on her face, even in her darkest days. Alice was greatly loved and will be dearly missed.
She was the devoted mother of Kathy (Bill) Gage, Susan (Tom) Doherty, Tom (Debbie) Appleman, Bill (Pat) Appleman, Mike (Lisa) Appleman, Mary Alice (Ric) Provenzano, Jim (Lynne) Appleman, Beth (Jeff) Bogemann, Carol (Eric) Fox, and Bob (Penny) Appleman; doting grandmother to 24; loving great-grandmother to 14; as well as, aunt to many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, January 2, 2019 At Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. A Recitation of the Rosary followed by a Mass of Celebration will start at 9:00 A.M., Thursday, January 3, 2019 at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 26160 Ranch Road 12 in Dripping Springs with Father Charlie Garza, Celebrant. Committal Services will follow at 2:00 P.M. at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like contributions to be made in Alice's memory to a charity of choice.
