Alice Ann Besler, 82, of The Villages, FL, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 12th, 2026.
Alice was born on Wednesday, January 19th, 1944 in Trenton, NJ, the second daughter of Helen (nee Krecicki) and Anthony Grodnicki. Mom graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1962 as the second graduating class of that young school. That was only time, Alice was second class. After graduating high school, Alice graduated from St. Francis School of Nursing and became an RN. Mom retired from nursing after working almost 40 years at St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, NJ. Moving with the love of her life Richard to The Villages in 2003, where she continued to work as an RN at a few hospitals, and even for a time at Publix in Florida – as she always wanted to be busy. Her biggest joys, were her husband and her family. Mom was brought into the Besler family and cared for my dad’s younger brothers Philip and Christopher, like they were her own. My uncles were frequently at our home on Lowell Avenue helping in any and every project. Mom took pride in watching them grow into fine young men, all while raising three children (Lisa, Scott, and Drew) with my dad. But her most precious time was spent with her seven grandchildren. She watched them compete in sports and they helped her adapt to technology and was always ready for facetime or a call to hear about their days, when she and Dad moved to Florida.
Mom was always available to anyone at any time day or night and had a pantry stocked with any food you needed and a pot of coffee ready to go. She loved musicals, crocheting, quilting, singing, soap operas (Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives were her favorites), and a clean house for anyone that needed a place to visit and a chat. She was a great sport and would play catch with her kids and also ride a motorcycle alongside her husband. She even joined the woodshop in The Villages and made some of the most decorative bowls that she gave to family and friends.
Mom was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Tony, her best friend and cousin, Carol Menichelli, her favorite aunt, Veronica Kalaman, and her godson Richard Menichelli.
Alice is survived by her husband of 60 years, Richard Shail, daughter Lisa and her husband, Edward, her son Scott and his wife Jessie, and her son Drew and his wife Lisa. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Eddie, Melanie, Ryan, Halle, William, Benjamin, and Leila. Mom is also survived by her sister Dorothy Paulaski and brother Raymond Grodnicki. Brother-in-law Philip and Carolann Besler, and brother-in-law Chris and his husband Dave.
Alice is also going to be missed by her friends as well as her nieces and nephews; Linda, David, Donna, Lauren, Marsha, Jennifer, Jonathan, and Brittany.