Alice Matthaus

Alice B. Matthaus (nee Carrier)

DOB: June 3rd, 1934

DOD: Sept 19th, 2024

Alice died peacefully in the Sechelt | shíshálh Hospital, late Thursday, September 19th, 2024. Over the few days she spent there, she was surrounded by her husband, Vern, her daughters Lisa and Theresa (Rick), and grandchildren, Tatum and Tyler. She is also survived by her brother Marcel.

Born in Willowbunch, Saskatchewan, the youngest of nine siblings, Alice grew up with her beloved lambs, piglets, and barnyard cats on the family farm in St. Paul, Alberta. At 21, she came to Vancouver on a holiday, fell in love with the coast and decided this was home. It was there that she met her husband, Werner Matthaus, recently immigrated from Germany, on a blind double date in 1960. They married Nov 3, 1962 and little did they know then the love would last 62 years.

Alice and Werner moved to Sechelt in 1975 where Alice supported her husband’s business, “Vern’s Backhoe Service”, had her own reflexology practice, and was a loving mother to their two daughters, Lisa and Theresa. Alice spent countless hours over more than 40 years volunteering at the hospital auxiliary Thrift Store in Sechelt. She was an active member of the Catholic Church in Sechelt, and helped Theresa with her catering company. She carved out an almost part-time job driving her “little old ladies” (and some gents) to church, appointments, shopping, whatever they needed, until she became one herself.

Alice loved skiing in her younger years, as long as her knees allowed. When they didn’t, she found great joy in taking care of children: her own, their friends, the neighborhood kids, and eventually her grandchildren, Tatum and Tyler and their friends. Children gravitated to her joyful presence and bottomless jello.

Alice will be remembered as a kind, caring, funny, firecracker who will certainly be beating you at crib. Ask her for a game in heaven if you dare.

Donations in lieu of flowers to the Sechelt | shíshálh Hospital.

We love you, Sweetie, Mum, Nan. Rest in peace.

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