Alice Reese

SUNRISE, MARCH 15. 1944 – SUNSET NOVEMBER 1, 2026

Alice was a devoted educator, faithful Catholic, accomplished storyteller, playwright, and director, as well as a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She passed away on November 1, 2026, at the age of 82. After more than four decades of shaping young lives through education and faith, she leaves behind a legacy of faith, service, artistic creativity, and love.

Alice was born on March 15, 1944, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and grew up in both New Orleans and St. Louis. She graduated from St. Alphonsus Liguori "Rock" High School in 1962. She married Harvey B. Reese in 1967, and together they had three children: Vincent, Eric, and Yvette.

Alice obtained her Bachelor's degree from Harris-Stowe State University and her Master's degree from Webster University. She devoted more than forty years to teaching elementary and middle school students in the City of St. Louis. After decades of teaching at St. Francis Xavier Elementary School and various schools within the St. Louis Public Schools, she was the first teacher hired when Loyola Academy opened its doors in 1999. Alice taught at Loyola for the remainder of her career until retirement.

Alice had a deep and abiding belief in the value of Catholic education and spent most of her career teaching in Catholic elementary and middle schools. She was also deeply committed to serving her Church. She served on the Parish Council at Little Flower Catholic Church, her parish home for more than forty years, and was heavily involved with Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church, her most recent parish, until it closed. Beyond her local parishes, for years Alice participated in and served as a delegate to the National Black Catholic Congress.

Alice also had a lifelong love of the performing arts. In addition to teaching speech and drama, she wrote and directed original musical and theatrical productions. She also spent years performing in local theater with the Persona Players.

Alice was someone who lived life fully and unapologetically. She was an educator, actress, playwright, and storyteller, but above all she was a force of nature. Quick-witted, outspoken, and never lacking an opinion, Alice could command a room with little more than her voice and presence. She delighted in performing, often breaking into character at a moment's notice or reciting a treasured poem from memory as if the whole world was her stage.

Family members knew her as both fiercely loving and fiercely protective. She advocated relentlessly for her children, her students, and anyone she believed needed someone in their corner. Though she experienced tremendous loss during her lifetime, including the early deaths of her daughter, Yvette, and her husband, Harvey, Alice remained her family's anchor through grief and adversity. She was the matriarch who gathered, encouraged, challenged, and protected those she loved. The imprint she left on her family, former students, friends, and community will endure for generations.

Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey Reese; her daughter, Yvette Reese; and her parents, Bennie Lee Adams and Anaise Victoria Adams (née Wilson).

Alice is survived by her brother, Bennie Adams, Jr.; her sister, Victoria Adams-Long (Raymond Long); her sons, Vincent Reese and Eric Reese (Tujuania Reese); her grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, relatives, former students, and friends.

Through her decades in the classroom, her service to the Church, her commitment to the arts, and unwavering devotion to family, Alice touched countless lives and left behind a legacy that will continue through the students, family members, friends, and communities she served.

ARRANGEMENTS

As a tribute to Alice's lifelong dedication to Catholic education, her family intends to establish a memorial scholarship fund in her honor to support Catholic education. Memorial contributions toward the establishment of her scholarship fund will be provided by the family in the near future.

The family will host a visitation for family and friends at Kriegshauser Mortuary-West Chapel, 9450 Olive Blvd., Olivette, Missouri 63132 on Sunday, November 15, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Alice's Funeral Mass will be held at Little Flower Catholic Church, 1264 Arch Terrace, Richmond Heights, Missouri 63117, on Monday, November 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., followed by interment at Resurrection Cemetery.