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    • Reception Facilities
    • Downtown Chapel – Main Office
    • Edmonton South/ Sherwood Park
      Commemoration Centre
      Cremation Facility
    • St. Albert Funeral Home
  • Flower shop
  • Obituaries
    • Current Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
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  • Home
  • About
    • Why Choose Us
      • Our Guarantees
      • Compassionate Staff
      • 3 Convenient Locations
        • Downtown Chapel – Main Office
        • Edmonton South/ Sherwood Park
          Commemoration Centre
          Cremation Facility
        • St. Albert Funeral Home
      • Onsite Flower Shop
      • Reputation of Excellence
      • Professional Aftercare Services
    • How we are Different
      • Life Celebration Experts
      • Vision and Purpose
      • Family Owned Since 1908
      • Connelly-McKinley Crematorium
      • 10 Step Cremation Promise
  • What We Offer
  • Funeral & Cremation Planning
    • Death Has Occurred
      • First Calls
      • What We Offer
      • Information Required
      • Reminder List
      • Inspiration for Writing a Meaningful Obituary
      • Preparing a Eulogy
      • Understanding Grief
      • Merchandise
      • Local Cemeteries
      • After Care
      • Submit an Obituary
    • Service Options
      • Asian Funeral Planning
      • Catholic Funeral Planning
      • Cremation Options
      • Burial Options
      • Unique Services
      • Memorial Receptions
      • Personalize the Service
      • Video Life Tributes
      • Streaming
    • Advance Planning
      • Family Service
      • Advance Planning Information
      • Advanced Planning Kit
      • Preplanning Kit
      • Planning Work Shops
      • Talk of a Lifetime
      • Travel Away From Home
      • Questions
  • Green Burial
  • Resources
    • Help
      • Payment Centre
      • Concierge Services
      • Community Resources
      • Canada Pension Benefits
      • FAQs
      • Advance Planning Questions
      • Education Programs
      • Travel Away From Home
      • Share a Review
      • Privacy Statement
      • After Care Services
      • Talk of a Lifetime
      • News & Events
    • Forms and Checklists
      • Preplanning Kit
      • Ask the Director
      • Catholic Service Questions
      • Preplan Online
      • Executor Duties
      • Obituary Guidelines
      • Satisfaction Survey
  • Locations
    • Reception Facilities
    • Downtown Chapel – Main Office
    • Edmonton South/ Sherwood Park
      Commemoration Centre
      Cremation Facility
    • St. Albert Funeral Home
  • Flower shop
  • Obituaries
    • Current Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Contact

Alice Switzer

In Memorial

Alice Edith Switzer ( nee: Collett)

 

Was born in the early hours on Sunday December 28 1930, to her mother Pegg and her father Ed in Calgary Alberta. She was only just over 3 lbs, due to her being premature. Alice was one of the first babies to utilize an incubator in western Canada.

   Spent her early life in East Calgary with summers spent on Vancouver Island. She was a voracious reader this started early age; this lasted from 3 till her passing were there was always a book by her bedside.

   She showed athletic prowess but due to a childhood mastoiditis was limited due to effects on her hearing and balance. This led her to her true passion, ART. Her gifts were fostered by her favorite Aunt Jeanine. They both had talents and their attachment was lifelong. This they shared with her longest lasting friendship of 80 years, Amy.

  The two shared much more than a birth year. A love for classic and modern aesthetics. As well as an intellect that brought them close. Over the next decades there were of hijinks and over the war years some hardships.

 She remained scholastically gifted in most subjects, but her love for Art and poetry prevailed. This led her to A.C.A the Alberta College of Art. It was situated on the campus of S.A.I.T in SW Calgary. This where she met her life love Phill Switzer. Their connection was made via her friend Mary, Phill’s younger sister. Alice friendship shifted to a romance of over 65 years.

Over the following decades and two provinces. They married, had 4 children; Colette, Edward, David and their youngest Bert. Not only did Alice work, go back to university and volunteer in amateur theatre, she raised a family and made a home.

  After working for the Yellowhead youth center ( what became EYOC ) and taking at risk youth into her home. She took a position at a small add agency Homerschams, before starting her teaching career with Edmonton public school. This then led her to becoming one of the inaugural facility at GMCC. This was for their first campus dedicated to Art and music in Edmonton’s westend. She remained there till her retirement in the mid 90s.

 She was loved and sometimes feared but always respected. An endless array of collaborators including co-workers and dear friends Jill and Stephanie helped her match to the beat of her own purple drum. Off beat but still beautiful. Her students and all knew Alice could throw a party. Usually an end of year wrap-up Bash.

 Most would of found this sufficient, not Alice. Her and her partner in Art and Life Phill, started numerous art installations. Bronze in St. Albert ceramics at the Boyle Street and so on. Her clay work was fostered by St. Albert Potter’s Guild and by endless supports. Their final work hangs in a dear friends bedroom as of today.

 There are many celebrations and friends too numerous to mention but she always kept her chosen family close. Even In her new home Rosedale Est. She was always up for a visit, a Caesar or lunch. She was content and surrounded by those who cared.

 As we know that all changed in 2020, and this health crisis. This effected the amount others could see her purpleness. Even with the birth of great grandchildren Aiden and Xander this limited her. The months passed in safety till late 2020.

 Alice passed away at RAH on January 3 2021 after contracting COVID 19 sometime in the weeks before. She came and left this world on a winter Sunday. She will be missed by a battalion of loved ones both related and chosen.

 Please take care of our purposely purpled people 💜 they are rare jewels in this dull world.

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Condolence Messages

  1. Gayle Burritt says

    January 9, 2021 at 10:16 am

    Alice was my dear friend and mentor of forty years or more. As one of her first students, she expanded my artistic vocabulary and my love of art. I was fortunate to be invited to her home on many occasions to enjoy the hospitality and generosity of the Switzer’s. I will miss Alice always.

    Reply
  2. L. Deborah Sword says

    January 9, 2021 at 11:28 am

    It was great to play Trivial Pursuit with them. Phil and I combined to make one team. Alice was the other. Alice won. Every. Single. Time. And it was always fun. There was no one like them. I hope that it’s a comfort to their many friends and wonderful family to think of Alice and Phil reunited. May their memories be a blessing.

    Reply
  3. Rose Stefaniuk says

    January 12, 2021 at 8:16 pm

    Alice was a Colourfully beautiful woman. She crossed my path many times in the last 40 years I will always remember her hand in hand with Phil with the sweetest grin. I know she will be missed but always lovingly remembered. My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief.

    Reply
  4. Patricia Bone says

    January 18, 2021 at 11:10 am

    On behalf of the Retirees of MacEwan University (ROMU) please accept our deepest sympathy on your loss. Alice was an unique individual who had a profound impact on all of us who knew her including faculty, staff and students. Her love of purple was evident and she became lovingly known as Purple Alice to all of us at MacEwan. Thinking of your family during this sad time. May your memories and knowing Alice, I’m sure there are many many wonderful ones guide you through your grief.
    Sincerely Patricia Bone, Care Convener, ROMU

    Reply
  5. Kevin Aschacker says

    June 2, 2021 at 8:13 am

    I am lucky enough to have had Alice Switzer as my former Mother in Law. So sorry to hear of her passing. All my memories of her are as she was, enormously colourful. I remember so many things, not least of which are the spectacular Seder dinner parties in her and Phil’s beautiful home in Old Glenora. Sincere and heartfelt condolences to all the family…

    Reply
    • Colette Switzer says

      January 11, 2022 at 5:53 pm

      Thank you for your kind words

      Reply

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