On Thursday March 21st 2024 Alice Ann (Besse) Donatelli passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones.

Alice grew up in New Bedford MA with her parents Elizabeth and Willard Besse, and her younger brother, Willard (Bill) Besse. She graduated from New Bedford Vocational High School and attended Lemuel Shattuck School of Nursing, graduating as an LPN. While at nursing school she met her husband Hugo as he was stationed with the Navy in Boston. They met, fell in love, and married six months later. She and Hugo lived in Illinois where he was stationed and then moved to East Freetown where they bought a small cottage next to her mother and father's home. It was there that they winterized the cottage and it became their forever home. Alice gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth Marie (Liz) in January of 1970. Alice worked the nightshift as an LPN at Union Hospital which later became Parkwood, and eventually worked the rest of her career at St. Luke's Hospital. She loved her work friends over the years. Three of them still work at St. Luke's and dropped in to see her before she passed, bringing a big smile to her face.

In 2004-2005 Alice won her battle with stage 4 endometrial cancer. Some say it was a miracle but she earned every single year she survived it. It was through rehab where she became friends with a special group of people in her aqua aerobic class. She enjoyed Tuesday lunches with them and several trips to the Caribbean with them.

Alice loved playing the slots, lottery, Keno, and scratch tickets. She loved the Red Sox and watched all the games even the preseason games. She loved football too and played in a football pool every year. Alice loved to knit, making beautiful afghans many of which she gifted to special friends over the years. But one of Alice's favorite hobbies was shopping with her best friend Annie or her daughter Liz. Nothing made her happier than to be with them and come home with Kohl's cash, bargains from JCP, and using up all her CVS coupons printed on foot long receipts.

In 2017, Alice and Liz moved into their new home on Long Pond on the same lot as the old house. And for the last seven years, Alice enjoyed looking out at the lake, and at her beautiful flower boxes, and of course Christmas lights during the holidays. Living there she also got to "borrow" the neighbor's dog, Pirate who brought her more joy than one could ever imagine. Alice always had a smile on her face and despite the aches and pains of aging she never ever complained. Alice was surrounded by loving friends and kind neighbors who would drop by with ice cream, pastries or just for a chat. And when Liz was at work or traveling, Liz's dear friends would look after Alice, making her coffee in the morning, or lunch or having dinner with her. On special visits from her friend Beth, she got scratch tickets and several times got whisked off to the casino for the day! But on most days, she had Annie (Bealka) who brought her sunshine on the rainy cold days and made boring days fun. Alice loved her to pieces.

Alice leaves behind her daughter Liz, her Grand-pups Dobbie and Nova, her brother Bill Besse, his wife Joan and their kids Karl and Kim. And of course, her dearest of friends (you know who you all are) who she loved with all her heart.

Following Alice's wishes, in lieu of flowers please donate to the Jimmy Fund or a charity of your choice. And in lieu of funeral services, the family will be hosting a private memorial service to celebrate her life on what would have been her 82nd birthday in May.