Alice McNeil

Alice Josephine (O’Brien) McNeil, 92, passed away peacefully at the loving home of Arbor House on October 21, 2015. Alice was born May 3, 1923 to John Louis and Mary Josephine O’Brien. Alice was a wonderful, loving, caring wife (she loved her Jimmy), mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend. Alice was a faithful Catholic and a member of St. Francis Catholic Church. She was a lifelong resident of Lake Leelanau and Traverse City. Alice had a full and wonderful life, and stated this many times in the past two years. Alice and Jim had frequent large family gatherings with their brothers and sisters and all their children: lots of food, love and euchre. Alice loved to recite poems and we all enjoyed listening and watching because she put so much animation into her performances. However, her big love in life (aside from husband and family) was her famous annual yard sales. Alice was known as the “Queen of Yard Sales” on the corner of Parsons Road and Avenue E. People thought it was a flea market, but it was just Alice and her purchases throughout the year. When Alice moved into the Georgetown complex, she earned a new title; they called her the “Go-Go Girl” because she was always going to the casino or to play bingo or to play bunco. Alice is survived by her children, James McNeil of Kalamazoo, Marti McNeil, their children Jim and Janna; Larry (Pat) McNeil of Big Rapids, their children Melissa Bozung (Tim), Todd McNeil (Shelli) and Amanda Williams (Edward); Diane (Thomas) Carroll of Traverse City, their children Traci Westman (Adam), TJ Carroll (April) and Tara Lautner (Tad); Patrick (Andrea) McNeil of Traverse City, their children, Ken, Jon, Mike, Patrick, Jeff and Alicia Hansen (Andy): Daniel (Judy) McNeil of Grandville; their children Dan, Holly Blough (Nick) and Eric: Peg (Paul) Merica of Ann Arbor, their children Jillian and Paul Jr.; Mark McNeil of Traverse City; 22 great-grandchildren; Madison, Rachel, Kevin, Joshua, Miranda, Brendan, Bryce, Naomi, Ashlee, Nya, Malachi, Janae and foster to Isabella, Gwen, Nolan, Hope, Lily, Lauren, Tyler, Tanner, Matthew and Benjamin. Also surviving is her brother, Peter O’Brien; and sisters-in-law, Dorothy O’Brien, Clementine O’Brien, and Alice McNeil. Alice was preceded in death by her husband James McNeil, her infant son Jeff, parents: John and Josephine O’Brien, sisters: Leona, Martha, Mary, Emma and Rosemary, her brothers: Julius, Elmer, Phillip, Paul, John, August and baby George, and her great grandson PJ Jean. A Funeral Mass honoring Alice will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2015 at St. Francis Catholic Church, 1025 S. Union St., Traverse City, MI 49684, with visiting one hour prior. Rev. Fr. Kenneth Stachnik will officiate. Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with Alice’s family at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Alice McNeil

May 3, 1923 - October 21, 2015