Mamie Cedel Aldrich, age 99, passed into the loving arms of Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior on November 25, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas. She was born on August 18, 1923 in Cordova, South Carolina to Jacob M. Thomas and Vernon Victoria Griffith Thomas.
She received her education in Cordova and eventually from the RN program at Orangeburg Regional Hospital in South Carolina. She received her diploma in 1945 and received a license to practice nursing. Her first employment was in Charleston, S.C. where she met her future husband George H. Aldrich while he was locally stationed with the Navy. They became best friends and he courted her until she finally said yes.
Mamie continued to work as a caring RN as she and George raised four children. George transferred to the Air Force, and they spent the next few decades at duty stations across the country, including Topeka Kansas, West Palm Beach Florida, Montgomery Alabama, and San Antonio Texas.
Mamie became a trusted and respected supervisor at Lutheran General Hospital in San Antonio for over 25 years. After a combined 44 years in nursing, she announced her retirement in 1986. Numerous people in the medical community begged her to stay. She had a profound impact on her patients and fellow nurses.
Her commitment to nursing was unmatched. In the last 25 years at Lutheran General, she had only missed ONE shift (due to a car breakdown as she drove to the hospital). No sick days. No absences. No excuses.
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Mamie is preceded in death by her husband, George Aldrich; her brothers Keith LeGrand Thomas, David Thomas, George W. Thomas, and Jacob Thomas, Jr., and sisters Gillette Thomas, Verda Parrish, and Viola Weese. Daughter-in-law Barbara Aldrich, Granddaughter Jodi Aldrich, Great grandchildren Fallyn Browe, Dyllan Browe and James Aldrich.
She is survived by her sons, James M. Aldrich and wife Julie, Doug Aldrich, and Jerome Aldrich and wife Doris; daughter, Aleta Bunch and husband Bill; George’s daughter, Natali Aldrich; grandchildren, Jarrett (Nadia) Aldrich, Jenny (Brad) McCoy, Bart (Gaile) Aldrich, Emily (Austin) Perk, Brylee (Aaron) Barcelo, and Ashlee (Eric) Browe; great-grandchildren, Jonah, Matthew, Garrett, Grant, Ella, Colton, Zachary, Hayes, Ava, Augustine, Bonnie., and Carolina.
Visitation will be at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, 6321 Bandera Road San Antonio, Texas 78238 on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.
A Celebration of Life Service will be Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 12:30 P.M. to 1:30 P.M. with interment at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Red Cross, mom’s favorite charity, or your favorite charity.
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