Alice (O'Connell) Fuhrmeister, of Rochester died Monday, December 19 ^th at the age of 69 after complications from a lung transplant.

Alice was born to Francis and Phoebe O'Connell of Simpson MN and grew up on the family farm.  She is the 15 ^th child of a family of 16.  Alice is survived by sisters Elaine Stokes, Sr. Conal O'Connell, Theresa Helgerson, Rosella Jech, Phoebe Whistler, Marlene Towey and a brother Charles O'Connell.   She is preceded in death by parents Francis and Phoebe O'Connell, brothers; John, Clarence, Nicolas, Walter, Richard, Edward, and sisters; Catherine Fitzgerald and Mary Margaret Bishoff, and son Keith.

Alice married Lorenz Fuhrmeister of Rochester on June 10 ^th , 1961 at St. Bridget Church.  Lorenz and Alice recently celebrated 50 years of love, commitment, and family!  They lived in many locations throughout MN and Iowa and finally settled in Rochester MN.  Alice was a wonderful mom to eight children: Lee (Mary), Brian (Rocio), Keith, Brenda Johnson (Jeff), Valerie Miller (Scott), Jason (Rachel), Amy Sieler (Peter), and Joe (Jonele). Their many grandchildren (Ben, Lee, Kelly, Jessica, Jordan, Jazzmine, Jaydon, Melanie, Dylan, Joseph, Tristan, Ethan, Keith, Ronya, Jennifer, Isabelle, Cora, Jayce) and great grandchild (Preston) were blessed with such a fun loving Grandma.

Alice enjoyed life to the fullest.  She kept very busy having coffee with sisters, trips to Florida, watching all MN Sports teams on television and occasionally actually attending in person.  She loved family time, annual family camping trips, holidays, birthdays, church and most of all watching Grandchildren play sports – the more the better.  Alice believed in family and made every effort to attend every wedding, graduation, shower, family reunion, funeral or other event – and believe me there were many.   We all appreciated her care, kindness, guidance, stubbornness, Irish feistiness and determination.   Alice touched so many lives and will be missed greatly.

A Funeral Mass will be held 11:00am, Thursday at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Simpson.   Officiating will be the Rev's. Matt Fasnacht and Paul Nelson.  Burial will be in St. Bridget's cemetery.  A visitation will be at from 5pm – 8pm Wednesday in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and also Thursday morning from 9:30am – 10:15am prior to leaving for St. Bridget's Church.

Memorials are suggested to the Alice Fuhrmeister Memorial Fund, in care of Associated Bank, 1155 16 ^th Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55902.

On-line condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.