Alice Margaret Schafer

Alice Margaret Schafer, 79, of Ithaca, MI, passed peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Saturday, 7/30/2022 after battling cancer for more than 26 years.  

Alice was preceded in death by Audrey Schafer (daughter), Agnes & Lyle Kenney (parents) and survived by Alan Schafer Sr. (husband), her 3 sons and their wives Alan & Pam Schafer, Andrew & Nicole Schafer, Aaron & Claudia Schafer, Anne Barton (sister), Howard Kenney (brother), & Daniel Kenney (brother).   Surviving grandchildren Erik & Melissa Schafer, Dakota Schafer, McKenna Schafer, and great grand-daughter Margaret Schafer… and many other relatives and friends.

Alice was a true pillar of her community (Ithaca’s Person of the Year in 2017) and always saw and brought-out the best in everyone around her as Mother, Cub-Scout/Girl Scout-leader, Sunday-school teacher, neighborhood baby-sister, teacher, Ithaca’s first woman council member & Mayor, Board member at Thompson Home Library, Gratiot Commission on Aging, & Gratiot Community Credit Union.

Alice completed her teaching degree at CMU after her kids could be at home alone and started the Alternative Education School in Ithaca then retired from Ithaca Public Schools where she touched many lives.

Alice loved to volunteer, read, garden, cats, to listen and talk to everyone, advocate for under-dogs, genealogy, & family history. Alice always saw the good in everyone. Her front porch became the meeting place.

A memorial service will be held in honor of Alice at 11am on Thursday, August 4, 2022 at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca with Mark Monroe officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gratiot Commission on Aging or to the Thompson Home Library.

The family is being served by the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.

Comments

[Lynn Hessbrook]

Schafer Family so very sorry to hear of the passing of Alice. She was a wonderful person. I’ll never forget when I was young and starting my first job at Leonard Refineries she took me under her wing and became a great friend

[Barbara Fandell]

She had a beautiful soul and was an inspiration. we shared many conversations and she will be dearly missed. Thoughts and prayers to you all.

[Sherah Nelson MacLaren]

So sorry for your loss. Always kind to everyone she knew. Just couple weeks ago she was out on the porch early morning and as I walked by she had a smile on her face and a kind word. She will be missed.

[Ginger Wetzel]

Alice was one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever known! I can just hear that warm voice of her’s saying every intelligent and nice thing you could dream up. She was such a fine example of a human being. If everyone had a heart like her’s this world would certainly be a different place! I had the honor of knowing her through being great friends with Audrey. Alice lived her life with such grace and poise, even through extreme challenges. I can’t say enough about her. We should all strive to be more like her, even though she would so humbly smile that beautiful, kind smile and shrug that notion off. Alice will be ever so missed by many. It gives me so much comfort to know that her and Aud are together again. Until we meet again. ❤️ Warm thoughts and prayers to Alice’s family.

[Christine Currie]

She was a lovely, smart, nice and good Christian. I enjoyed her friendship for years. I am sad.
May God give comfort to family ad friends.

[Tim Lambrecht]

Alice was an amazing teacher for my son and thousands of other Ithaca students. She identified each child's unique gifts and brought the best out of them. She was the epitome of a servant leader for her community selflessly giving her time and talents to the benefit of all. She epitomized "Character Counts" and was a great role model for all of us. Al Sr., Al, Aaron, and the rest of your family-I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers will be with you and your family.

[Nola F. owen]

Alice was a special , loving teacher. She seen the good in people. She was the miracle angel that changed our nephews life.. Always grateful.

[Doug Carpenter]

I knew Alice as a teenager when we were growing up as neighbors in North Star. She was loving and caring then, so I can just imagine how she became the beautiful, admired lady as an adult.

[Robert Duckworth]

Grateful for people like Ms. Schafer growing up in Ithaca. She always made time to share a kind word or encouragement. My condolences to Mr. Schafer, Alan, Andy, Aaron, family, & friends.

[Polly Austin]

Ithaca, MI