(nee Metzger)
Alice died quietly on October 9, 2009 in Nanaimo, surrounded by her loving family. Alice was the beloved wife of Claus Andress for 52 years, and much-loved mother of Catie (Tim), Mary (Gilles), Caroline (Perry) & Peter (Sylvia). She was a very special grandma to Megan, Noah, Sophie, Madeleine, Lucie, Alice, Alyssa and Cyrus, adored aunt to Julie, Peggy, Jackie, Jonathan, John, Bob, Al, Tina, and Michael, and great-aunt to many. She will be remembered always with love, and very much missed.
Alice is predeceased by her infant children Claus & Stephanie Andress, cherished parents Alvin and Laura Metzger, brother John Metzger, and sister Margaret Klinck.
Alice was born on July 23, 1929 in Hanover, Ontario, where she grew up amidst a large and loving family. She graduated with honours from Western University in mathematics and physics, and went on to complete a Masters degree in mathematics at Queens University, and commence PhD studies at Columbia University. She taught mathematics at Waterloo Lutheran College (now Wilfrid Laurier University), where she was also appointed first Dean of Women. Alice was an independent and adventurous young woman, and traveled extensively in Europe, leading tours and teaching at a private school in England.
Throughout her life, Alice was very committed to the church. She gave selflessly of her time, resources, and energy to help others. In her early years, she was Sunday School Superintendent at St. Mathews Lutheran church in Hanover, and later worked on the Board of World Missions, representing the Lutheran church in India. After moving to British Columbia in 1967, she was elected to the Abbotsford School Board.
In 1975 she moved with her family to Salt Spring Island, where she was a well-loved and respected member of the community. She dedicated herself to the raising of her four children and supporting her husband as ‘the vet’s wife’, while also running the parish Sunday School. Over the years she organized placements for Vietnamese refugees, was heavily involved in the peace movement, campaigned for nuclear disarmament, and worked to raise money for World Development. She tutored jail prisoners in mathematics for the Open Learning Agency, and volunteered in extended care at Lady Minto Hospital, faithfully baking a cake every Monday for 25 years to serve to her beloved ‘oldies’. Alice also acted as hostess at the soup kitchen at All Saints Church. After moving to Nanaimo, she provided cookies and conversation to prisoners at the correctional institute.
Alice struggled with an undefined neurological condition for 25 years, with particular difficulty over the last 10 years. In spite of it all she lived her life to the very end with generosity, gratitude and love.
A memorial service in celebration of Alice’s life will be held on Wednesday, October 14th 2pm at Saint Philip’s Church in Lantzville, with tea to follow. In lieu of flowers, Alice would have liked donations to Save the Children Canada (www.savethechildren.ca) or Loaves & Fishes food bank (www.loavesfishes.org).