McDONALD (née Rozen), Alice Jean
Born on 5 November 1950, departed this life peacefully at her home on a warm sunny Thursday morning, 29 February 2024.
Born in Seminole, Oklahoma, Alice attended The University of Oklahoma to pursue a career in Pharmacy. It was in the chemistry labs of OU that she met her future husband, Frank. The discovered a mutual love of tennis and travel. In 1974, Alice moved with Frank to his homeland of Australia. They were married in 1976 and resided for the next 47 years in Oyster Bay. There, the couple raised two daughters, Suzanne and Monique, their pride and joy.
Alice worked for over twenty years as the local pharmacist in Oyster Bay, becoming a friendly, comforting face to her customers. She was Secretary of the Oyster Bay Sailing Club for a few years and sailed races with Frank on the Georges River. Alice also was Secretary of the Como Swimming Club when the girls were racing.
By far, though, her most important and fulfilling role was being a mum to Suzanne and Monique, who remember her for her unconditional love. True to her Jewish heritage, Alice was vigilant in looking out for the safety of others. She was always ready to be a mum to anyone, including her two sons-in-law whom she loved as if they were her own.
In recent years, Alice was known as “Oumie” and “Aussie” to her four grandchildren. She loved watching them at cricket, soccer, taekwondo, nippers, and playing piano. To quote Alice, they are “simply the best.”
Alice enjoyed the ordinary pleasures of life, never taking for granted those joys often overlooked. She loved a good takeaway box of fish and chips. She loved baby back ribs, fried chicken, Oreos, and Hershey’s chocolate syrup that all reminded her of America. She loved all kinds of sweets, but her favourite thing was a cold glass of water with extra ice (or was it Dr. Pepper?). Alice was famous for her outstanding home cooking and, like so many mothers, she will live on through her recipes.
Alice was also known for her affinity for all things sparkly and humorous. She never missed an opportunity to buy a bejewelled sequined hat or bag, or a t-shirt with a funny slogan. It made her happy and, as a result, it put a smile on the faces of those around her.
It is well known that Alice’s happy place was the beach. From the first time she set eyes on the Pacific Ocean when Frank took her to Bronte after landing in Australia, to every time she crested the hill at Cronulla and saw its beauty, Alice remarked, “Can you believe there is all that much water in the world?” It was a breathtaking, spiritual experience for her, and she was so proud to call Australia home.
We love you Alice for everything you did for us, and we were not ready to let you go. Your memory will be eternal in our hearts and minds, and whenever we see the sun shining over the great Pacific, we will say to ourselves, “Can you believe there is all that much water in the world?”
Alice is survived by her husband, Dr. Francis Joseph McDonald of Oyster Bay; her daughters, Suzanne and her husband Sean, and Monique McCullough and her husband Daniel of Stanwell Park; her four grandchildren, Curtis and Ella, and Matilda and Franklin McCullough; her two brothers, Michael George Rozen of Frisco, Texas and David Joel Rozen of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA; and many extended family members who loved Alice’s famous brownies and choc-chip cookies. We all miss you Alice. You certainly left a beautiful imprint on this world.
The funeral service for Alice will be held in the West Chapel of Woronora Memorial Park, Linden Street, Sutherland on Wednesday 13 March 2024 at 11:30 am followed by a reception at The Founders Room, Wanda Surf Club, 2 Marine Esplanade, Cronulla.