NORTH ADAMS, Mass. —  Alice Rita (Morandi) Mirante, of North Adams, MA died peacefully on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at Williamstown Commons. Gratefully, her family was allowed into the facility to be with her.

She was born in North Adams, MA on April 27, 1927, a daughter of Peter and Cora (Cote) Morandi. She attended local schools and graduated from Drury High School in 1944.

After high school, Alice was employed as a telephone operator for New England Telephone where she and many of her friends worked together. Later, she worked the switchboard at North Adams Regional Hospital, and then was employed as a paraprofessional for the North Adams Public Schools. In her final job, she came full circle and was employed as a switchboard operator at Mass College of Liberal Arts for many years until her retirement. She sure enjoyed the friends she made there, and especially their supper club. She never had a problem making and keeping many companions from all walks of life.

Alice was the consummate Mom, always a whirlwind at cooking, cleaning, sewing, and taking her children everywhere, making them her priority, in addition to her work outside the home. She was one of the hardest and most energetic workers you could know. Everyone liked Alice and her optimistic upbeat personality.

She was a communicant of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church and a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She enjoyed working on the church bazaars, and loved attending them, especially with her grandchildren.

Alice married Attillio “Eddie” Mirante on September 23rd, 1950 and they almost made 70 years together. Her husband died of COVID in April, 2020 after being Alice’s caretaker for many years before their life came crashing down after, as pedestrians, they were struck by a car while in their late eighties. That accident sent them both to a skilled nursing care facility where they remained until death.

Alice never complained about having to leave her home and was always smiling. Everyone at the facility knew and loved Alice who was such a happy, easy going resident. She loved putting in thousands of steps walking all around the building in her unwavering steadfastness and determination. She also loved playing rummy there when she had someone to play with and BEAT. Her math skills were still available to her as she would add up those points like it was second nature.

It’s a sure thing that she will be missed on Unit 3. Her sparkling blue eyes, perpetual and infectious smiles (given so freely), and joy in singing “You Are My Sunshine” will be fond memories and images she leaves behind to her caretakers as well as her family. She continued to sing when asked even when she barely had the lung capacity to get the words out. She also would surprise everyone by knowing all of the words to the songs and prayers that were part of activities there.

She had a lot of serious mental challenges in the last decade plus of her life, but she met them with a devil-may-care attitude. Alice was unflappable. She found the joy around her and nothing was going to get in the way. She was truly a trooper and carried on no matter what.

Alice, too, contracted COVID last April right after her husband died. She was frail and confused, but her inner strength carried her through. Nothing was going to get her down even though she was weak and isolated from her family. Her spirit was resolute and unshakeable.

She was an exceptional mother/grandmother, and one of her biggest enjoyments in life was helping to take care of her grandchildren after her retirement. They were her EVERYTHING, her pride and joy, and she would have done anything for them. Surely each will have special memories of her and the unique experiences they shared.

Eddie and Alice had a special bond over all of those years, and, although they were on different units in the nursing home due to Alice’s penchant for wandering, Eddie would incessantly call for Alice and in a very loud voice tell her to come along. Even though he saw her a few times a day, when she wasn’t there, he would roll down the halls in his wheelchair calling for her. IT SEEMS HE IS CALLING FOR HER NOW.

Survivors include one daughter- Dr. Diane (Edward J. Denehy) Mirante of Great Barrington, MA; and two sons- Anthony (Sandra) Mirante of North Adams and Peter (Michele) Mirante of North Adams. She also leaves five grandchildren- Theresa, Michael (Erin), Stephanie, Ashley and Nicholas; one great granddaughter- Lily and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two sisters- Kathleen McAndrews and Frances McAndrews.

The family would like to thank Janice Tassone, Tamara Senecal, and Amanda Deeley her home caretakers, as well as her private companions while in the nursing home including, Julie Chandler, Bethany O’Neil, Jeannie Queen, and Aleisha Radke. We would finally like to acknowledge a debt of gratitude to all of the nurses, CNA’s and staff of Williamstown Commons who took care of Alice with care and compassion. She was very content there, and quite assuredly was one of their star residents.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Due to the present COVID restrictions, there will be a private service and burial at Southview Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Berkshire Meadows, the Alzheimer’s Association, or the charity of your choice in care of FLYNN AND DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS CENTRAL CHAPTER, 74 Marshall St, North Adams, MA 01247. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.