Mary Alice “Alice” Broxton
Mary Alice “Alice” Broxton
Mary Alice “Alice” Broxton of South Abington Township, Pennsylvania, died on Thursday, February 6, 2025, in Peckville, PA, with her youngest daughter holding her hand. She was born in Rudyard, MI, to Byron M. “Tod” White and Ila H. Mikkola White. Alice was 85 years old. Alice was the devoted wife of the late Richard C. “Dick” Broxton. They celebrated 66 years of marriage prior to Dick’s death in 2022. In addition to her husband, Alice was preceded in death by her oldest son, Richard, Jr. (Judy); her brother, Richard White; sister, Helen Hubbard; and her parents.
She is survived by three children: Kimberley McMichael (James, deceased), Brian Broxton (JoAnn), and Jennifer Krist (Alex); a brother, Brian White (Chris); a sister, Sally Wiles (Robert); a niece, Kelly Frantz (Karl); a nephew, Mark Porter (Sandi); great-nieces and -nephews and cousins. In addition, she was the proud Nana of nine grandchildren: Emily Broxton Cerrillo (Jacob); Adam Broxton (Julie); Jesse McMichael; Kyle McMichael; Abby McMichael; Erin Shenk; Benjamin Broxton; Alison Helms (DJ); and Nathaniel Broxton. She had eleven greatgrandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Like many women of her generation, she wore many hats in the care of her family – chef and baker extraordinaire, beginning with winning the Chippewa County, MI, cherry pie baking contest at age 16; chauffeur to ball games, piano lessons, swimming lessons, and the myriad activities her children participated in; nurse to children sick with the sniffles, etc.; tailor of handmade Halloween and Christmas pageant costumes and outfits for special occasions; mediator of sibling conflicts; economist for the family of six. She was a very involved parent, volunteering as, among other things, a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, PTA president, and college phonathon fundraiser. She was an avid reader and enjoyed crossword puzzles. She was a great Scrabble player. She liked quilting, sewing, painting, and antiques.
Like her mother, she loved flowers, especially red geraniums. In 1980, Mary Alice obtained her advanced secretarial certification from the Warren, PA, VoTech. Alice worked as a legal assistant and later office manager for the (then) Cramer & Swetz law firm in Stroudsburg. Upon moving to Scranton, she was employed as the executive assistant to the president of the Third National Bank. Later, she was an executive assistant at Akzo Nobel Salt in Clarks Summit, PA.
Alice “retired” at age 50, when Dick retired. After that, she was Dick’s co-pilot and navigator (pre-GPS, pre-cell phones) on trips to visit family and friends, historic sites, and photogenic destinations.
Alice was always involved in her local Presbyterian church, serving as a Sunday School teacher in Warren, PA, and as a committee member for their church cookbook; as a Deacon in East Stroudsburg; and as a Deacon and an Elder in Clarks Summit. She was instrumental in carrying out a program to grieving church members in Clarks Summit, mailing booklets and cards to those who lost loved ones, to let them know that their church had not forgotten them.
Many thanks to Alice’s and Dick’s caring neighbors in South Abington Township, who watched out for them both while they lived at home and remembered them when they moved to the nursing home; to the staff and residents at Aventura at Terrace View who loved Alice and became like family; and to our team at Hospice of the Sacred Heart, for sharing your knowledge, guidance, and compassion. We will always be grateful.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Sacred Heart, Moosic, PA; the WhiteWiles Home c/o Superior Health Support System of the EUP, 308 W. 12th St, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783; or to the library of your choice.
A celebration of life will be held later, at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Cremation Society of Pennsylvania Scranton.