Alice Elizabeth Proulx McNally passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at the age of 93 years. She was a resident of Kimball Farms Nursing Home since October 2014. Prior to that, she lived at Pine Hill Assisted Living in Lenox, Mass., from 2004 – 2014. Alice was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on October 25, 1921 to Sylvina LaBreque Proulx and Eugene H. Proulx. She is predeceased by brothers Eugene J. “Bud” Proulx, William F. Proulx, Joseph R. “Bob” Proulx, John A. Proulx, and great grandson Hudson John Raifstanger.
During her childhood and young adult life Alice lived in Bayside, Elmira, and Flushing, N.Y. In 1945 she married Robert J. McNally. In 1955, as the mother of four young boys and five months pregnant, she moved to Kobe, Japan, with her husband, who was transferred there on a business assignment. While living in Japan Alice had two more children. She also became involved in many aspects of community life including acting as a volunteer librarian, participating in a Women’s Club civic organization and learning the Japanese art of Oshie. In 1966 Alice and her family moved back to the U.S. and lived in Old Bethpage, N.Y., In 1979 Alice moved to Pittsfield, Mass., and in 1982, Alice moved to West Stockbridge, Mass.
Alice is survived by her brother Edward R. Proulx of Elmira N.Y.; her sister Theresa A. Crowley of Greenbelt, Md.; and her six children: Robert J. McNally, Jr. and his wife Rhonda of Franklin, Tenn.; Thomas W. McNally and his wife Virginia of Norcross, Ga.; Richard E. McNally of Norcross, Ga.; Howard E. McNally and his wife Nancy of Nokomis, Fl.; Patricia A. “Pam” Negrini and her husband Peter, of West Stockbridge; Kathleen E. Dillon and her husband Kevin of Granby, Conn.; her grandchildren: Elizabeth Johnson, Sean McNally, James McNally, Katharine Ferguson, Keegan McNally, Tyler McNally, Jonathan McNally, Timothy McNally, Michael McNally, Rebecca Raifstanger, Cailin Berke, Patrick Negrini, Christine Macken, Courtney Cotter, Kathrine Sullivan; and her great grandchildren: Conor, Nicholas, Mitchell and Jack Johnson; Kayla McNally; Gwyneth, Charlotte and John Ferguson; Margaret McNally; Jayder, Ember, Roman and Ryder Raifstanger; Arianna, Devon and Maxwell Berke; Kevin and Claire Macken; Jack and Owen Cotter; Bradyn and Addison Sullivan.
Grandma Alice, as she was fondly known, is survived by fifteen grandchildren, and twenty-two great grandchildren. Very recently Grandma Alice was delighted to learn that her family would be growing again — with the addition of three more great grandchildren during the summer of 2015!
Alice was a very talented seamstress. Throughout her life she made many of her own clothes, and clothes for her family. She made prom dresses, tuxedos, bridesmaid gowns, flower girls’ dresses, children’s clothes, doll clothes, Halloween costumes, cheerleading uniforms, and more. Among these items was her daughter Kathy’s wedding gown, for which she painstakingly sewed on many dozens of seed pearls – one pearl at a time!
Alice also enjoyed embroidery and counted cross stitch. She created hundreds of beautiful items including pictures, large murals, decorative pillows and Christmas ornaments. She stitched birth announcements for each grandchild and great grandchild and created wedding samplers for family and friends. Alice made hundreds of birthday and holiday greeting cards. Her legacy lives on with each of us fortunate enough to have been a recipient of her handiwork.
Alice was an active member of the West Stockbridge Golden Agers. She was instrumental in arranging many memorable scenic and cultural bus trips for the members. Alice was the manager and buyer for the Fairview Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop from 1990 to 2004. During those years, the gift shop flourished financially, enabling the Auxiliary to make generous contributions to Fairview Hospital.
She was a strong woman who cared for everyone more than herself. She had quiet strength, courage and self-discipline in the face of adversity. Her sense of humor always surfaced at the appropriate times and along with her faith in Jesus and His Church guided her through the toughest of times with grace and singular purpose. We will all miss her smile, bright sparkling eyes and radiant inner beauty.
The family wants to thank the administrators and staff of Pine Hill Assisted Living at Kimball Farms for making her last ten years of this life comfortable and enjoyable.
We also want to thank the administartors and staff at Kimball Farms Skilled Nursing Facility and Hospice of Berkshire Health Care for keeping her engaged and comfortable as she transitioned to her place in heaven alongside all those she cherished who made the journey before her.
Her funeral mass will be celebrated at St Patrick’s Church in West Stockbridge on Monday, January 12 at 10 a.m., conducted by Rev. Christopher J. Waitekus, pastor. Burial will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in West Stockbridge.
The family will receive visitors at the FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME on Main Street in Great Barrington from 4 to 7 pm Sunday, January 11.
In keeping with Alice’s wishes, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Saint Patrick’s Church Memorial Fund through FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances may be sent to her family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.
