Alice Emily Velten

Alice E. (Bacon) Velten,102, lived in Stoneham for 81 years before moving to Brightview Independent Living in Wakefield where she quickly became a ‘favorite’ of staff and residents alike.  She died on Nov. 13, 2021 at Sawtelle Hospice House in Reading.  She was the beloved wife of the late Clifford A. Velten with whom she had shared 66 years of marriage.

Born in Boston and raised in Medford, she was the daughter of the late Walter Bacon and Grace (Whitcomb) Bacon.  She graduated from Medford High School, class of 1937.  She worked as a secretary at Barbo’s Furniture,  American Mutual Insurance, and New England Memorial Hospital.

She was an active member of the First Baptist Church, a member of the Stoneham Historical Society and remembered by many Stoneham girls as their Girl Scout Leader.  Alice enjoyed family, entertaining, music, nature, square-dancing, travel, gardening, reading,  playing cards Suduko, and doing word search word puzzles. She was always right there if someone needed help.  She had a knack for seeing special qualities in each person she met.  Friends and family frequently heard “You are special” – and she meant it.  She saw what was truly unique in each individual.  Family frequently heard these comments from residents and staff at Brightview:  “She’s so kind”;  “What a caring, loving person”!  “She remembers everyone’s names”;  “She speaks to everyone – going from table to table at mealtimes”;  “Her clothes are beautiful – always with matching earrings and jewelry”;  “Her hair always looks lovely”;  It was hard for her to understand why others found her uniquely loving because it just came naturally.  It bothered her that she couldn’t hear much of what others were saying.  She had a keen interest in those around her.  She also loved to laugh and missed so many witticism because of the spotty hearing.  She told one daughter, “I want to laugh too!”

As one grandson put it, “If you knew her then she probably told you how special you are. If I told her you had a problem then your name went to prayer group even if she never met you. I remember many different faces living in the spare room at her home when they needed to get on their feet. She was truly one of the best! If she was right about things then I hope they put a good shine on heaven before she got there. I’d like to think she’s dancing with Gramps and not trying to scrub a stain that the lion got on the lamb when they were cuddling. We all loved her like she loved us “oodles and oodles and oodles and oodles and oodles….”

Alice is lovingly remembered by her three children,  Wayne C. Velten and his wife Ann of Haverhill, Joyce G. Turner, her late husband Paul, of Reading and Janet L. McLaughlin, her late husband Leonard, of Billerica. She was the beloved mother of the late Diane Frates and mother-in-law of Robert Frates of Peabody.  Also survived by twelve cherished grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren , a great-great-grandchild and many nieces and nephews.

She was the grandmother of the late John C. Brown III and  the late Erin L. McLaughlin and sister of the late Lois Cavanaugh, Irene Cain, Charlotte Bacon and Harvey Bacon.

A Celebration of Life will be held on November 27 at the First Baptist Church, 457 Main St., Stoneham at 11:00 a.m. following the opportunity to meet with family at 10:00 at the church.  Masks required at church. Interment following the service in Lindenwood Cemetery, Stoneham.  In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial gift to the First Baptist Church, Stoneham or the American Cancer Society. The service will be put over zoom.