Alice Rae Cranston of Ocean City, NJ passed away in Princeton Junction, NJ on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at the age of 81 following a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Alice was born on July 28, 1943 in Atlantic City, NJ to John and Evelyn Cranston. She moved to Ocean City, NJ with her parents and her younger brother, John, at a young age and remained a lifelong resident. She graduated in 1961 from OCHS as the class president & salutatorian. After Alice obtained her BA from Glassboro State University, she went on to have three children; John, Judy and Jeff. She also began her Journalism career as a Staff Writer at The Atlantic City Press in the late 1970’s. She eventually became the Features Editor where she loved to cover the Miss America Pageant and was a featured columnist for many years. She wrote multiple funny and heartfelt articles about life, love, loss and her children becoming adults and having children of their own (much to her children’s surprise).
Alice was many things to many people and was able to rise to the occasion as her family needed her. For the young family, she was a Girl Scout Leader, head chef at home, family holiday hostess, and beach bum. In the 80’s, she became the greatest OCHS sports fan of the decade cheering for her children at many, many sporting events. As the kids began to leave home, she became an avid biker, traveler, and bird watcher with her many friends.
The role that filled her with the most joy was to be the very best Nana ever. She would travel most weekends to see her seven young grandchildren. There was a sparkle in Alice’s eyes every time she spent time with her grandchildren. You may have seen her walking the Ocean City Boardwalk towing various grandchildren in a Radio Flyer Red Wagon or cheering them on as they rode the kiddie rides at Wonderland Pier. It is unknown if Alice read more books or built more sandcastles with her grandchildren. She would stand on her porch waving goodbye and blowing kisses every time her family would visit her in Ocean City, NJ.
Alice was predeceased by her parents John and Evelyn Cranston. She is survived by her children John Eckerson of Rye, NY, Judy (Brian) DeMar of Waterford, VA and Jeff (Karin) Eckerson of Pennington, NJ, her seven beloved grandchildren Nick, Megan, Sam, Sarah, Ben, Emily and Jack and her brother John (Merry) Cranston and niece Jennifer McEntee.
The family wishes to lend their heartfelt gratitude to Alice’s caretakers Ginger Allen and Dee Audain as well as the staff at Artis Senior Living. All noted her sweet smiles and hugs all around.
As Alice was a true Ocean City girl, the family has decided to hold a service/celebration on April 26th when the sun is shining and we can remember Mom in the place she loved the most. Final arrangements are still being made and family/friends will be notified. Please contact Judith.demar@verizon.net if you don’t hear anything by February and would like to attend.
After she retired, Alice supported a special organization for a number of years called CONTACT Cape Atlantic. They provide community support for older adults, people with disabilities and those who are lonely, living alone or feeling isolated from their community. If you would like to honor our Mother’s loving memory, the family gratefully requests donations be made to this organization. Contact Cape-Atlantic, 25 Dolphin Ave. Building D, Northfield, NJ 08225
Phone 609-823-1850
www.contactcapeatlantic.org
