Alice O'Brien

Alice M. (Stiefvater) O'Brien, 86, passed peacefully away Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at the Seasons of Life Hospice House in Woodruff, WI. Alice was born August 30, 1923, in Manitowoc, WI to the late Robert and Alice Stiefvater. On May 14, 1949, she married John H. O'Brien, and together they had nine children. John preceded her in death. A son Timothy also preceded her in death. Alice grew up in Manitowoc and later attended Marquette University, earning a BS degree in nursing. She was a labor and delivery nurse in Wausau for over 20 years. She was loved for her wonderful, caring nature and made a difference for many. She devoted herself to her children and was a loving, nurturing and calm influence in all of their lives. Traditions were and still are an important part of her legacy to her family. Alice will be so missed by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Survivors include eight children: Amy (James) Suski, La Verne, CA; Judy (Rene`) Boer, Pingree Grove, IL; Cynthia O'Brien, Maplewood, MN; Patrick O'Brien (Nancy), Maplewood, MN; Connie (Michael) DeBels, Tomahawk, WI; Jan (Kenneth) Bronson, Englewood, CO; Daniel O'Brien, San Diego, CA; and Charles O'Brien (Sonia), Inver Grove Heights, MN.; 10 grandchildren: Meghan (Suski) Becker, Timothy Suski, Allison (Boer) Van Sloun, Erin Boer, Haley and Kellen O'Brien, Olivia DeBels, Chelsea Garinger, Kelly (Wetterau) Dahlstrom and Lane Wetterau; six great-grandchildren; two sisters: Vivian Roberts, Wausau, WI and Sister Carol Stiefvater, Manitowoc, WI; two sisters-in-law: Marjorie Bartowszek, Milwaukee, WI, and Veronica Stiefvater, Milwaukee, WI.; and many nieces and nephews. Two brothers, Eugene and Robert Stiefvater, and a sister-in-law, Edith Stiefvater, also preceded her in death. Funeral mass will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday, December 26, at St. Mark Catholic Church, 602 Military Road, Rothschild, WI. Reception at the church will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mrs. O'Brien's memory may be made to Ministry Home Care, Dr. Kate Hospice, P.O. Box 770, Woodruff, WI 54568.