Obituary
Rest in Peace
Alice J. Abrahamsen
May 7, 1927 – November 6, 2020
Alice J. Abrahamsen, age 93, died peacefully on Friday, November 6, 2020. Her husband of 65 years, William S. Abrahamsen (1928-2016) and son, Ralph S. (1955-1980) preceded her in death.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Jean and Rick Kestner of The Villages, FL. Also surviving Alice are her sister-in-law RoseAnn Hepburn, her cousin Karen Johnson, nieces Sharon (Richard) Parry, Laurie (Vince) Devlahovich, Kristin (Christopher) Moore and nephews Larry (Deedy) Herman, William Johnson, and Eric (Katherine) Hepburn.
Alice Jean was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 7, 1927 to Martin A. and Esther H. Nelson Johnson. She was welcomed by big brother, Arthur H. Johnson. Her parents and brother preceded her in death.
Alice grew up on the south side of Chicago and graduated from Calumet High School. She attended University of Illinois for a year. She was then employed at R.R. Donnelly Company as an executive secretary.
She met the love of her life, William S. (Bill) Abrahamsen at Luther League and married him at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Chicago on April 21, 1951. They welcomed two children into the world—Jean Ann in 1953 and Ralph S. in 1955. When Jean was born, Alice became a full-time homemaker and mother. She was an excellent seamstress and loved to knit.
Alice and Bill made their home in Chicago, Evergreen Park (IL), Bradenton (FL) and Melbourne (FL) before returning to Illinois in 2016. Alice spent 2018-2020 in The Villages (FL) with Jean and Rick.
Alice and Bill loved to travel. While raising their family, they spent time during the summer either fishing in Michigan, Minnesota or Wisconsin or taking driving vacations showing their children the United States and Western Canada. For their 25th wedding anniversary, they enjoyed a 2-week trip to Hawaii. In honor of their 50th wedding anniversary, they went on a Mediterranean cruise and their daughter hosted a party for family and friends. Their 65th wedding anniversary was a quiet affair celebrated with close family.
After retirement in Florida, they enjoyed going to the ocean and fishing there. They went on several trips to Norway and got acquainted with Bill’s relatives. Additionally, they loved to go on cruises. Alice frequently found inexpensive cruises and prodded Bill to go saying it was cheaper than staying home! They cruised all over Europe, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal and the west coast of the US and Canada to Alaska.
While living in Melbourne, FL, Alice became a volunteer at the King Center for Performing Arts. She was honored in 2016 as a 25-year volunteer. She loved being a volunteer and all the friends that she made at the King Center over the years.
Alice was active throughout her lifetime. During her younger years, she enjoyed yoga and water aerobics. In her later years in Melbourne, she could be found riding her bike throughout Windover Farms where they lived. She learned a new form of exercise in recent years –cardio drumming! She got a big kick out of “making music” while pounding on the ball with drumsticks. And she always liked to walk, especially along the ocean in Florida.
Alice made friends wherever she was. She had friends from her childhood that she kept in touch with throughout the years as well as new friends that she made wherever she lived. And Alice loved her family. Big family gatherings made her the happiest. She welcomed family and friends into her home and cared for her parents in their later years. She was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, cousin, and friend. She will be dearly missed by all. Rest in peace Alice. We love you and miss you dearly.
In memory of Alice, please consider making a donation in her name to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation at ww5.komen.org or a charity of your choice.
Interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Chicago. A memorial service will be held at future date.
Leave a reply