Alice W. Maybury

Alice (Whitehead) Maybury, affectionately known to her family as “The Queen,” entered into eternal rest on Thursday, August 30, 2018, surrounded by her loving family.  Alice was born on April 20, 1927 in West Springfield, MA to George and Estelle (Nichols) Whitehead, the youngest of thirteen children.  A 1945 graduate of Agawam High School, Alice married the love of her life, William J. Maybury, Jr. on November 20, 1948.  Alice and Bill settled in East Longmeadow in 1957, where they raised their four daughters.  Alice was a parishioner of St. Michael’s Church in East Longmeadow, an active participant in the Catholic Women’s Club and Flower Pin bowling league, a founding member of the “Jaycee-ettes,” and a proud lifelong Democrat.

Alice and Bill threw the best parties with Alice as the consummate hostess.  Holidays at Gram’s were full of food, fun, and frivolity – the very best memories were made around her beautiful dining room table.  She adored summer vacations at the beach, where she loved lobster dinners and epic Skip-Bo games.  Cruising was her passion - she never cared about the destination, she just loved to sunbathe, gamble, and sip a strong Piña Colada on a comfortable deck chair.  Recent family reunions involved “Cruising with the Queen,” and trips to Hawaii and Ireland, where she delighted in being amongst her many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and creating wonderful memories with them. An avid walker, she was active until her late 80’s in the “Morning Glory Walkers,” and truly enjoyed the great friendships she formed at the E.L. Senior Center.   Alice was the biggest Red Sox fan - nothing stood in the way of watching “her boys” for well over 60 years.  Tales of her legendary vitality and sense of adventure will be treasured and passed down for generations.

In addition to her parents, Alice was predeceased by her beloved husband, Bill, (1992), her cherished grandson, Christopher Scholtz (2012), and her precious great-granddaughter, Morgan Keane (2012). She was also predeceased by her beloved brothers Robert, Albert, George, Wallace (Ray), Ernest, William, Richard, Arthur and David, and her cherished sisters Viola, Bertha and Ruth.

Alice is survived by her loving daughters who will miss her wisdom, wit, and companionship – Karen Keane (Peter) of Williamsburg, VA, Cynthia Sawyer (Jerry), Lynda Willetts (Tom), and Pamela Scholtz (John), all of East Longmeadow. Alice also leaves 11 of her 12 grandchildren, each of whom made her proud and happy every day with their love and devotion – Matthew Keane (Angela) of Washington, D.C., Daniel Keane (Tiffany) of Chesapeake, VA, Erin Sawyer Spear (Jeff) of Longmeadow, Timothy Willetts (Martha) of East Longmeadow, Heather Keane Gillespie (Mike) of Portsmouth, VA, Lindsay Sawyer Beer (Emily) of Wilbraham, Shaun Willetts (Tawni) of Denver, CO, Jeremy Sawyer (Kate) of East Longmeadow, Casey Scholtz Mailman (Chris) of East Longmeadow, Kate Willetts of Boston, and Nicholas Scholtz of East Longmeadow.  Alice was delighted to be “Great Gramma” to her 18 beautiful and sweet great-grandchildren – Braeden, Morgan, Taylor, Danica, and Grace Keane, Emma and Ellie Spear, Hannah, Finn, Brody, Jordyn, and Myles Willetts, Hailey and Harper Mailman, Charles and Grace Sawyer, William Gillespie, and Wesley Beer.  She was the star of every wedding, the center of the dance floor, she gave the best hugs, and she never forgot a single birthday, graduation, or other important event.  She leaves us all with broken hearts, but with a multitude of happy, sweet memories to last a lifetime and beyond. There will never be another “Queen”.

Calling hours for Alice will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 pm on Tuesday, September 4th at Forastiere Smith Funeral Home in East Longmeadow.  Her funeral will be held Wednesday, September 5 at 9:00 from the funeral home, followed by Mass at St. Michael’s Church in East Longmeadow at 10:00 am.  Burial will take place at St. Michaels Cemetery immediately following the services.  Donations in Alice’s memory can be made to St. Michael’s Church, 128 Maple Street, East Longmeadow, MA 01028 or to the Open Pantry, P.O. Box 5127, Springfield, MA 01101-5127.