Alice Sichley 94, of Mt. Angel, left her family & home on Jan 2, 2021. Into the loving hands of God; His plan for her life eternal is complete. She was born on Oct 6, 1926 to Severin and Nellie Lyonais in Williston, North Dakota. She was the 4 ^th Of 5 children.

Alice grew up on a farm in Williston with a love and appreciation for life & Gods' creation. There, at age 6 and Annette age 7, they walked with big sister Helen age 14, a half mile to a one room school house.

In the mid 1930's during the depression, the family lost their farm. Life was hard with winter blizzards, summer droughts and dust storms. Nothing grew and swarms of grass hoppers ate anything that was left. There was no electricity or plumbing and they walked daily to their well to get water. Her family then moved to her uncle's farm in Fairview, Montana and worked there until her father found other work.

Having little to almost nothing, she never complained and found happiness with her family in the simplest of things.  The family moved again leasing a farm near Dor, Montana and going to a 3 room school house there. Again, after several moves in that area, her family moved to Portland, Oregon in the early 1940's where jobs were plentiful during the war. She & her sister Annette finished school and graduated from Madeline Catholic High in June 1945.  As teenage girls they found life in the city fun and exciting with many opportunities. She also worked part time jobs Montgomery Ward's mail order department and at Fred Meyers as cashier. During the war gas was rationed, She enjoyed having to ride the street cars everywhere instead.

Soon after graduating Alice went to a Convent in Everett, WA to study to be a nun but then had a different calling and came home a year later. She then got a job working as a file clerk for Dunn & Bradstreet.

Alice met her husband Carl (Dean) Sichley in Dec. 1944, they became friends. Sometime after returning home from Everett Dean came to see her and soon afterwards they began to date. They enjoyed music, dancing and skating. She and her sister Annette both became engaged so both couples decided on a double wedding and Married on Jan 24,1948 in Kalispel, MT. The happy couples returned to Portland and began families.

Alice became a wife, then a full-time loving mother with the birth of 9 children. They remained in Portland raising the family, but had been looking to move south and out of the city. She was widowed at (40) In January of 1967, Dean (44) husband of 19 years died in a fatal accident.  She moved the family to Mt. Angel later that year with the help of her parents and her strong but simple faith in God, always looking to the example of the Virgin Mary. Her parents soon moved here also and assisted her with raising our family.  The youngest child was over a year old.

Later in life when the family was grown, she was a caregiver to families with elderly in need. She worked in the infirmary for the Benedictine Sisters. She also worked as a care aid for the mentally challenged home in Mt. Angel.  She volunteered visiting the sick and those with no family at the Benedictine Nursing Center and would bring music to share with them. Also, she was a member of St. Mary's Parish since 1967.

Alice's always loved seeing her grandchildren, 76 in all.

She enjoyed gardening, especially her flowers. She loved music and liked to dance. Her sister Annette shared that love and they would go to the Oktoberfest every year for Polka music and dance.

Mom was loved dearly and will be missed by us all until our final days in eternity. She named each one of us after a saint to help us with life's journey. In her quiet example and simple ways she had great influence in all our lives.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl (Dean) Sichley; son, Vincent Sichley; 4 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild; parents, Severin & Nellie Lyonais; sisters, Annette Murphy, Helen Barnhart; brothers John Lyonais, Johnny Lyonais. She is survived by daughters: Therese Kalberer(Tony) Molalla; Bernadette Hamberger(Lance) Mt. Angel; Anna McClung(Rick) Yachats; Helen Fetsch(Rick) Scotts Mills; sons: Tony Sichley(Chris) Mt. Angel; Joe Sichley(Debi) Silverton; Mike Sichley(Roxanne) Portland; Pat Sichley Mt. Angel; 25 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Viewing will be from Noon to 6:00 pm Tuesday Jan 12 & Wednesday Jan 13, Unger Funeral Chapel: 190 Railroad Ave, Mt. Angel, OR.

A Rosary at 7:00 pm Jan 14, 2021 at St. Mary Church. A Funeral Mass at 11:00am, Jan 15, 2021, St. Mary Church (Fr Ralph Recker, OSB will officiate) Mass livestreamed at www.stmarymtangel.org

Uploaded to youtube by St. Mary's https://youtu.be/zV60kdXcI-U

Arrangements by: Unger Funeral Chapel-Mt.Angel