Mary Alyce Strom Carmichael died on January 12, 2016. She was born in Gary, Indiana on May 21, 1931. She received her primary education in a two room school house in Wheeler, Indiana and Horace Mann School in Gary, Indiana before moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she attended Haverford High School. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Hotel Administration in 1953. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and PEO. She spent her career in food service and was employed by the E. I. du Pont Company, Pan American Airlines, UNC Inter Fraternity Counsil an dthe Chapel/Carrboro school systems as the Food Service Director. She retired after 20 years with the school system and later worked in the travel industry with local firms and as an independent travel agent.
Mary Alyce was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2007, and her death was a result of that disease. Her husband, Daniel Mac Carmichael, Jr., was her sole caregiver during her ordeal until December 1, 2015 when she was moved to Chatham Ridge assisted living facility where, on the third day, she fell and broke her hip. She was unable to recover from the resulting hip operation due to the Alzheimer’s disease.
Mary Alyce is survived by her husband of 58 years, her daughter, Mary Carolina Rogers Carmichael, son-in-law, William James Pelosky, granddaughters, Grace Ashby Pelosky and Mary Rose Pelosky of Winchester, Massachusetts, and sisters Suzanne Charlotte Strom Wotring of Greensboro, North Carolina and Starr Messick Rohrman of Santa Rosa, California. She was predeceased by her son, Robert Oliver Carmichael who was killed by a drunk driver on December 19, 1980.
A celebration-of-life service will be held for Mary Alyce at the Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Church, 304 East Franklin Street in Chapel Hill at 10AM on January 23, 2016. A gathering will be held at the church after the service.
Mary Alyce was a beautiful person inside and out. She was kind, happy, vivacious, and funny. She had a glorious smile on her face all the time. We were blessed to have her in our life. We will miss her.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1305 Navaho Drive, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27609.
