Obituary for Alice Girillo
Alice Esther Girillo, 93, passed away peacefully at her home in Fort Washington, Maryland on February 18, 2021. Born August 7, 1927 in East White Plains, New York, Alice is the daughter of Elmer and Lucy Coombs. Alice married Anthony (Tony) L. Girillo in 1949. They enjoyed a rewarding life together for 68 years until Tony’s passing in 2017. Alice leaves behind three daughters, three sons-in-law, six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.
When her husband enlisted in the Air Force, Alice became a career military wife. Her resilience, strength, and courage became the core of who she was. She faced many challenges setting up homes in Saratoga Springs NY, Cape Cod MA, Mt. Holly NJ, Biloxi MS, Phoenix AZ, and Oxon Hill, MD. Throughout the years, she adeptly managed all household and family matters while providing a home full of love and laughter. She proudly proclaimed herself a “domestic engineer.”
Most people know her as Alice. Her family knows her as “Babe.” Her husband Tony lovingly called her Esther. No matter what name she was called, Alice was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and a proud American. She never met a person in need who she didn’t reach out to help. She was beautiful, strong, independent, loving, and kind.
Alice loved animals, always feeding the stray cats, and taking a few in as her own. Deer regularly found a welcome home in her backyard. You could always find her outside cutting the grass or working in her garden. Her yard was by far the most beautiful in the neighborhood!
When she was not in her garden, a favorite pastime activity was dancing and singing to the tunes of Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, and many other performers. Alice joined the emerging aerobic dancing movement where she participated in classes and dance-a-thons to raise money for Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital.
Cherished memories of her kindness and love live on in her three daughters: Susan Novotny (John), Pamela Au (Jim), Brenda Evans (Matthew); six grandchildren Matthew, Nathan, Anthony, Joseph, Kylie, and Maggie; and seven great grandchildren Cameron, Jahsiah, Easton, Payton, Oliver, Abraham, and Lucy.
Alice will always be remembered for the charming way she said goodbye -- “See you later alligator! In awhile crocodile!”
Burial services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery where she will be laid to rest with her beloved husband Tony. Burial service information will be posted on the Kalas Funeral Home website as it becomes available.
As a tribute to Alice, donations may be sent to Alley Cat Allies, online at https://www.alleycat.org/ or by mail to: Alley Cat Allies, 7920 Norfolk Avenue Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814-2525
When her husband enlisted in the Air Force, Alice became a career military wife. Her resilience, strength, and courage became the core of who she was. She faced many challenges setting up homes in Saratoga Springs NY, Cape Cod MA, Mt. Holly NJ, Biloxi MS, Phoenix AZ, and Oxon Hill, MD. Throughout the years, she adeptly managed all household and family matters while providing a home full of love and laughter. She proudly proclaimed herself a “domestic engineer.”
Most people know her as Alice. Her family knows her as “Babe.” Her husband Tony lovingly called her Esther. No matter what name she was called, Alice was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and a proud American. She never met a person in need who she didn’t reach out to help. She was beautiful, strong, independent, loving, and kind.
Alice loved animals, always feeding the stray cats, and taking a few in as her own. Deer regularly found a welcome home in her backyard. You could always find her outside cutting the grass or working in her garden. Her yard was by far the most beautiful in the neighborhood!
When she was not in her garden, a favorite pastime activity was dancing and singing to the tunes of Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, and many other performers. Alice joined the emerging aerobic dancing movement where she participated in classes and dance-a-thons to raise money for Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital.
Cherished memories of her kindness and love live on in her three daughters: Susan Novotny (John), Pamela Au (Jim), Brenda Evans (Matthew); six grandchildren Matthew, Nathan, Anthony, Joseph, Kylie, and Maggie; and seven great grandchildren Cameron, Jahsiah, Easton, Payton, Oliver, Abraham, and Lucy.
Alice will always be remembered for the charming way she said goodbye -- “See you later alligator! In awhile crocodile!”
Burial services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery where she will be laid to rest with her beloved husband Tony. Burial service information will be posted on the Kalas Funeral Home website as it becomes available.
As a tribute to Alice, donations may be sent to Alley Cat Allies, online at https://www.alleycat.org/ or by mail to: Alley Cat Allies, 7920 Norfolk Avenue Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814-2525