Alice (Krupicka) Hamouz was born to Vaclav (James) and Barbara (Suda) Krupicka on Sept. 22, 1901 near Milligan. Alice passed away on Dec.30, 1999 at a New Jersey Hospital with her family near her bedside at the age of 98. Alice was one of five children born to the Krupicka's.

Alice grew up in the Milligan rural area until 1914, when her family moved into Milligan into a new home. She graduated with the Milligan High School class of 1920 and in later years loved to attend the alumni banquets.

She married William E. Hamouz, son of Anton A. and Anna (Stech) Hamouz of Milligan and made their home in the Milligan area. To this union was born one daughter, Jean Lodder Howard. In 1941, the Krupicka family sold their farming operation and moved to Patterson, N.J.

Alice and William made a life for themselves there, but continued to keep ties with the Milligan area. Helen (Radil) Hamouz, a sister-in-law of Alice were always the best of friends throughout their lives. Recently Alice talked about the fun they had and talked about the community of Milligan during the time of Prohibition. Alice loved her birthplace of Milligan and wrote twice a week to keep up on family and community news. Later, she made weekly phone calls to her nephew, Ron Hamouz, to keep up with events.

Alice became a vital part of her eldest granddaughter’s life when her son-law, Cornelius Lodder, passed away in 1962. Alice helped care for Linda and enjoyed the years of growth with her. After the death of her husband, William in 1968, Alice moved in with her daughter for a brief time. Everyone always looked to Alice as the pillar of the family; one could go to her as the nucleus as she provided safety many times from the fears of the world.

Through her life, Alice was often looked to as the mother and grandmother to those in need. As a person with a natural instinct to be a mother, Alice took care of so many during their times of need. To her neighbors, she was thought more of a family member than the woman next door. She took food, sat with, and talked daily to others that needed a special smile.

Alice worked with the New York Rockettes during her later years and enjoyed watching them perform. Never one to regret life as it was given to her, she often took the bad and saw a learning experience in it. The joy of her life were her granddaughters and great-grandsons, they were always a part of conversation. She would often worry about the future for them, but continued to teach them morals, love and compassion.

No one was a stranger to Alice and a conversation was easy to strike up with her. Her humor will not be forgotten, nor will the strength that she possessed in her daily living. Alice passed away after suffering congestive heart failure and most recently a stroke with her family near her.

She leaves to mourn her daughter and spouse, Jean and Bill Howard of River Edge, NJ; granddaughters and spouses, Linda and Bill Lodder-Ingoglia of Park Ridge, NJ and Kim and Kevin Ullrich of 'Dumont, NJ. Great-grandsons, Marc and Eric Ingoglia of Park Ridge, NJ; brother-in-law and spouse, Edward and Ann Hamouz of Lincoln. She will also be missed by family and friends of the Milligan and Wilber area.

Memorials have been established to the Ceski Bratri (North Cemetery) Association of Milligan in memory of William and Alice (Krupicka) Hamouz.

Funeral services were on Tuesday at Beaugard Funeral Home in River Edge, NJ with burial near her husband William Hamouz at George Washington Cemetery in Paramus, NJ.