On Saturday, May 22, 2021, Alice Carol (Holsten) Salazar-Dennis passed away peacefully from natural causes at her home in Olathe, KS at the age of 79. Alice was born November 21, 1941 in Wichita, KS to Richard Armstrong Holsten and Carol Alice (Phipps) Holsten. She was a loving wife and mother of three children, grandmother of seven, and great-grandmother of three.
Her family meant the world to her and there was nothing she cherished more than when the entire family would get together. Alice had a passion for fun and enjoyed being the life of the party, ensuring everyone was comfortable, laughing, and having a good time. She was often referred to as the “energizer bunny” because she had so much energy for life. In her early thirties, Alice launched an extremely successful real estate career in Olathe that spanned nearly five decades, supported her children as a single mother, and produced many close connections and friendships. Her career allowed her to travel the world on frequent real estate trips she treasured. She was known for her clever slogans like, “Let Alice sell your palace.” After completing the RCIA process at Holy Angels Church in Basehor, KS, Alice became Catholic in 2008 and regularly attended mass at Holy Angels. She was highly active in her community, especially volunteering for Meals on Wheels.
Her three unique, and occasionally difficult, children’s growth into successful, kind, and loved adults was her greatest pride and joy, as well as a testament to her as a mother. She was her grandchildren’s favorite “Memaw” and their biggest fan. She never missed an opportunity to encourage their success – even if that meant “enrolling at school” with them or playing a practice patient. Her gifts still bring a smile to the face of her grandchildren to this day. Her humor, charm, and kindness will be dearly missed by the many friends she made over her lifetime. She will forever be at the heart of many treasured memories and laughs in her family.
Alice was preceded in death by her parents, her late husband, Rudy Salazar and her grandson, Chris Brown. She is survived by her husband, Charles Dennis; her sister LouAnn (Gary) Steadman; son Bobby (Tara) Salazar; daughter Suzanne (Rod) Pettit; son Scott (Amy) Salazar; six grandchildren Rudy, Randi, Riley, Steven, Sierra, and Cade; and three great-grandchildren Skylar, Bennett, and Evie.
The family will hold a private Celebration of Life at a family residence and a ceremony at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Olathe, KS, where her late husband and father of her children, Rudy Salazar, was laid to rest in 1986. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to Meals on Wheels at www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org
