Alyce Nelson Talarico Graves

Alyce Nelson Talarico Graves passed away at 100 years, 6 months old on March 7, 2015. She was born August 31, 1914 in Duluth to Harry and Ida (Reinertson) Nelson. She grew up in West Duluth and attended Longfellow Elementary, West Junior, and Denfeld High School.

She worked at Kleer-flax and married Joe F. Talarico of Duluth in September of 1941. She drove a coal truck for Talarico Coal Co. during World War II and was the accountant. While raising three children she was the accountant for Talarico Sales and Unit Step. She was also a self-employed tax preparer. Joe passed away in June of 1987. In October of 1992, she married Hollis Graves II of Duluth.

Alyce enjoyed volunteering, was president of the PTA at Irving and West Junior schools, and participated in the Duluth Centennial. She taught religious education at Good Shepherd Catholic Church and was a Eucharistic Minister at St. Joseph’s. She shared memories of the fire of 1918, her various world travels, hunting and camping stories, and other adventures. She enjoyed gardening, fishing, sketching & painting, cooking, making wine, and always had the coffee on. She was a “stand-in mother” to nephews, nieces, and neighbors.

Alyce was preceded in death by her parents, sister Hazel Nelson, husband Joe (1987) and Hollis (2005), son-in-law Roger L. Maher (1990), and stepdaughter Patricia Potswald (2000).

She is survived by her children, Betty Jo Maher of Cotton, MN, Mary Lee (James) Henriques of Carlton, MN, Michael J (Ricardo) Talarico of Duluth, MN, and honorary daughter Masumi Goto of Duluth; grandchildren, Kyle (Sarah) Maher of Duluth, Aaron (Kirsten) Maher of Savage, MN, Leah (Ben) Wekseth of Moose Lake, MN, Patrick (Kitty) Maher of Duluth, Michelle Henriques of Carlton, MN, Megan (Aaron Tschida) Henriques of Duluth, Isaak Talarico of Duluth, and honorary granddaughter Ayuko Kassel of Duluth. She is survived by 16 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her step-children, Ken (Gen) Graves, Joanne (Michael) Dosen, Kathy (Dick) Frost, Rosemary (Dan) Bourgerie, Hollis (Vickie) Graves III, Michael (Nancy) Graves, and step-son-in-law Robert Potswald, with many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

Visitation: 5:00-7:00 p.m. Friday March 13, 2015 with Rosary at 6:30 p.m. at Bell Brothers Funeral Home, 601 North 56th Avenue West, Duluth. Visitation will continue from 10:00 until the 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, March 14, 2015 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 151 Linden Street, Duluth. Interment will be in Oneota Cemetery. Please leave a memory of Alyce or words of support for the family at www.bellbrothersfuneralhome.com .