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.