Obituary of Alice Ann Breen

Alice Ann (MacDonald) Breen, of Riverside, passed away peacefully, Friday, July 10, 2015, at Cooper Hospital after a long courageous battle with lung cancer. Known to her family as "Amazing Alice" she was a loving mother and grandmother that always put others before herself. Alice was born in East Boston, Mass. on Valentine's Day 1934. It is no coincidence that her heart was as big as the sky. She was the only girl of 3 children and spent most of her childhood helping to raise her two younger brothers. She went to nursing school immediately following her high school graduation and became a Registered Nurse. She enjoyed working with geriatric patients. After meeting her Army husband Robert at Fort Devons, she married and relocated to New Jersey in 1963. As she was raising her family, she also worked as a Bell telephone operator, did private home nursing, but eventually found her true calling as a Court Administrator, working for Palmyra, Edgewater Park and Beverly Townships over a 30 year span. She retired at the age of 80. In her spare time she served as a Girl Scout Leader, and a member of the Juvenile Justice Committee in Delanco, New Jersey. She loved camping and the Philadelphia Eagles, but mostly loved spending time with her family. Alice was preceded in death by her husband Robert Lyle Breen. She is survived by her children, Kathryn Tursi (Paul) of Riverside, Allyson DeSante (Robert) of Cinnaminson, Robert Breen of Edgewater Park, and Timothy Breen (Jen Cocuzza) of Riverside. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Paul Tursi Jr., Julia Tursi, Anthony DeSante (Amanda), Alyssa DeSante, Patrick Breen, James Breen, and Jesse Breen. Alice was also blessed to have one great grandchild, Cassandra Barrett DeSante. Alice is also survived by her brother, Robert MacDonald (Pauline) of Massachusetts, and her dear sisters in law, Joan Simmons of West Chester, Pa, and Marie Longwell of Boyertown, Pa. Alice was also blessed to leave behind many dear nieces and nephews from the Breen and MacDonald clans. To know her was to love her, so she leaves behind countless other people who have adopted her a second mom or grandmother. Two of Alice's best and dearest friends preceded her death, Josephine Cesare of Riverside, and Crystal Jordan of Burlington. She also leaves one best friend behind, Ann DiMarco of Burlington, NJ. Family and Friends are invited to visitation at Chadwick Memorial Home, Webster Street, Riverside, NJ. Wednesday, July 15, from 7 pm to 9 pm, and Thursday morning from 9 am to 10 am. A Memorial Service will follow at 10 am at the funeral home. Donations may be made on her behalf to Wings of Steel Disabled Hockey Team, 28 Cherry Circle, Blackwood, NJ, 08012.