Alice M. Warmeling

Alice M. Warmeling, finally beat cancer after a 3 ½ year war. The battle recovering from a broken hip was just too much. On April 16, 2025, she was finally freed of all her pains, and as her husband held her hand, she entered into eternal rest. She always did enjoy her naps; this one will be her longest, and everlasting. Her last words to Jon were, “I love you so much.” She was born on September 10, 1959, to Bob and Fran in Cleveland. She loved her camping trips and trips to Florida as a kid, except when little sister Mary would pull her off the back deck of the car where she often napped. She absolutely loved her time playing with the neighborhood kids, especially those McGuinness kids! She was fortunate to have many “uncles” that were World War II and Korean War Veterans and friends of her father, specifically Uncles Ray and Tim, who kept an eye on her, and two eyes on Jon, mentoring him in serving Veterans. She was a Sunday School teacher, and immediately after high school, went to college and worked at Tri-C. If you pissed her off, you may have experienced some temporary scheduling issues. She continued her education at Kent State and moved on to the auto industry-fixing cars, not selling them, when she could get the guys to carry the heavy parts for her. For more than 15 years though, her joy was working in the tropical fish industry. That led to three other administrative jobs, ending her professional career in an office with an emphasis on international shipping compliance. And for more than 25 years, she worked a second job “taking care” of her VFW family. But her biggest job, and her hardest, was taking care of her Jon. From cracking open his crab legs at Pickle Bills while quizzing him with flash cards to help him pass law school and then the bar, to proof-reading his briefs (or rewriting them) and speeches, and even sitting second chair at trials (once telling a Judge why he was wrong in open court, and he agreed, with the State’s Attorney asking her to chime in at any time if ‘they’ made any further mistakes), her hands were always full. Alice loved animals and the outdoors, especially New York and Canada, and her Whitney, Benson, and Henry…and deer; something she and Henry both enjoyed, although Henry usually brought one that was hanging in a neighbor’s barn! She adored Canada and didn’t care which porch she sat on as long as she could see Lake Panache (Penage), loons, chipmunks, and hummingbirds, and Jon when he was doing something stupid. And there was only one thing to do at the end of a long week working two jobs - head to the woods in New York! For more than 20 years, rain, sleet, or snow, it was off to the cabin. Jon and Oz could often rely on an afternoon break, deep in the woods, cutting firewood with Alice bringing snacks (and if not more beer, maybe a special cocktail). She relished the days of rockets, target shooting, and her remote-controlled sailboat, as long as “the boys” were done with their speed boats. Top off the days with a barbeque and a small campfire (well, small by our standards) and they were good days, many years of them. She was an outstanding cook, and for a time, did dinners at the Slovenian Club, the VFW, and made the spaghetti sauce for the VFW Fish Fries. Cooking was a passion that she thoroughly enjoyed. She had been so looking forward to cooking again but was taking joy in telling Jon how he was doing it wrong. If you knew Alice, you likely knew what she thought about you, or thought you did; she respected most of you more than you know and respected your strength and dedication. She was extremely smart with a genius IQ, who some would say talked before she thought, but as she would tell you, she knew what she was saying. But she also knew that didn’t always go over well, and she did regret it, sometimes. With age, COVID, cancer, multiple fractures in her back and then the broken hip, she missed seeing people from the old days: Tina and Marty, Trish, Michael, and Mike and Julie; and Ozzie, Jamie, Kenny (and all her ‘adopted’ sons), and of course her Fairport VFW (you know who you are) and Little Valley NY American Legion families. Her Legion Sisters in NY, after receiving payment of her dues, and learning of her passing, still issued her 2025-2026 Membership Card-showing she had been a member for 25 years. During COVID, she especially enjoyed her friends at the very important meetings held at the… (you too know who you are). And of course, all her friends in Salamanca, the draw poker machines, and paper “crack.” The person she most missed seeing, talking and sharing a drink with, and just being with, was of course Anneli (and her husband Mark!)… she is with you all in spirit forever. Alice was proud of her father’s Korean War service, and her husband’s Beirut, Lebanon service, and was the epitome of a Soldier’s Daughter and ‘Marine Wife.’ She loved her trips to the National Beirut Veterans of America Memorial in Jacksonville, NC, and loved her husband’s Brothers and Sisters from the Corps. What many don’t know is how much Alice loved to crochet, sew, and scrapbook. She loved taking photos and arranging them as story books that will live as evidence of the fun, exciting, and happy life she lived. But she also loved doodling, drawing, and sketching, mostly of nature’s beauty. This likely grew from her love of art, and she adored everything from drawings and lithographs by Rosamond, to paintings by Renoir, like Little Irene. But she rarely talked about those things, mostly only reading about them and observing the works. If you did want to chat with her, maybe about important things, and really discuss the true meaning of existentialism, not today’s version or “definition,” she’d be happy to; she had a dry wit and a sharp tongue. If you wanted to get philosophical, she’d be happy to quote Kant or Nietzsche. But if you started leaning into the eloquence of philosopher poets, she’d likely start with Emerson, Whitman, or Tennyson, then segue into some fun stuff with Chaucer, Goethe, Dickinson, Plathe, or Byron. That’s when Jon would remind her that Boldt Castle has wine spigots in the hallway, and she should help herself to a glass… or carafe! Alice is survived by her Mom (please don’t contact her), her sister Mary and brother-in-law Emil, her absolutely beloved niece Dana, and her cousin Carolyn, in addition to many other cousins, and all of Jon’s family. She will be interred with her husband, maybe in a National Veterans Cemetery, when the time comes. A celebration of life, or maybe just a party, may occur sometime in the future. Donations may be made to Fairport Veterans Boosters, Inc, 540 New Street, Fairport Harbor, Ohio 44077, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. Designate it for the Fairport Veterans Memorial and the Fairport Veterans Boosters will match all donations made in her name. Outside of Alice’s window at her LAST nursing home, families of cardinals flocked daily – one of the few birds (up close) she dearly loved: When cardinals appear, you know that I am near. Though we may be apart, you need to know that you are always in my heart. The cardinal’s presence is reassurance that your loved one is always with you when you need them… all that you need to do is look for them. ©2019 B. Counts (Thank you Norma!) God sent me you… I love you so much. Arrangements entrusted to Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060. Offer condolences at www.brunners.com

Alice M. Warmeling

September 10, 1959 - April 16, 2025