Anne Marie Alape

Anne Marie (Quirk) Alape, 91, of Willimantic, formerly of Ashford, passed away peacefully at St. Joseph Living Center on May 22, 2012 surrounded by many loving family members. She was born August 18, 1920 in Bayonne, NJ to William A. and Helen (Twomey) Quirk. She married Robert Edward "Eddie" Alape on June 4, 1939.He predeceased her in 1993. In 1948 Anne and her husband fulfilled a dream to raise their children in a rural environment when they and their first two sons moved from Jersey City, NJ to buy a chicken farm in Ashford. Anne threw her legendary and seemingly boundless energy into gardening, canning, sewing, needlework, community activities and church groups at St. Philip the Apostle Church, while hosting a steady stream of city relatives who returned again and again to enjoy the Alape Farm in the country and Anne and Eddie's generous hospitality. Anne and Eddie owned and operated the Ashford Dari Bar for 12 years. Anne also worked as a department manager in Barker's Department Store and sold World Book Encyclopedia. After she and her husband moved to Willimantic, Anne often helped her teacher-daughter in her classroom, and later worked as a library assistant for 10 years at Natchaug Elementary School in Willimantic. Until her illness, she spent many years as a regular volunteer at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham. She was a member of the St. Joseph Parish Women's Club and Legion of Mary, volunteered at WAIM (Windham Area Interfaith Ministry) and St. Joseph's Church Bingo, and was a member of the prayer group at Immaculata Retreat House. She was also a Eucharistic Adora at St Joseph Living Center. Anne leaves her loving and well-loved family: William Alape of Ashford, Kathleen Carpenter of Hampton, Joyce Hansen of Northampton, MA, Philip Alape and his wife Julia Cunningham of San Francisco, and two devoted sons-in-law: William Carpenter and Russell Hansen, also former daughter-in-law Susan Alape and former son-in-law Roland Morin. She also leaves beloved grandchildren Lisa Alape of New Britain, Kimberly Kramer and her husband Kevin of Columbia, Amanda Dazy and her husband Michael of Chaplin, Natalie and Lena Cunningham of San Francisco. Among the "lights of her life" were her great-grandchildren: Christopher, Jack and Allison Dazy, Jace Kramer, Molly, Kelly, and Liam Alape. She also leaves her devoted sister and brother-in-law Dorothy and Larry Boisvert of North Windham, brother Robert J. Quirk of Sarasota, Florida, sister-in-law Evelyn Quirk, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her husband she was predeceased by a son, Robert M. Alape in 1993 and five brothers William Quirk, George Quirk, Edward Quirk, Walter Quirk and infant brother Joseph. In addition, Anne leaves behind many friends... people who came to know her during a lifetime devoted to helping others, especially the staff and volunteers at St. Joseph Living Center. Many of them truly were her other family during the months she resided there. Her family will receive friends and relatives on Saturday, May 26, 2012 at the Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St., Rte. 195, Willimantic from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. prior to the procession to her Funeral Mass at 12:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Church in Willimantic. Burial will be private in St. Philip Cemetery, Ashford. In accordance with Anne's wishes and charitable nature, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to St. Joseph Living Center, 14 Club Road Windham, CT 06280, noting that the contribution is in her memory, for the creation of a much-needed End of Life Suite.