Click here to watch Alice's liturgical wake service.

Click here to watch Alice's Mass of Christian burial.

     Alice Marie Kessler, 78, of Aberdeen, passed away on Saturday, September 16, 2017, at her home.

     Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 21, 2017, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 409 2nd Avenue NE, Aberdeen, with father Michael Griffin as celebrant.

     Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

     Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Friends may sign Alice’s online guestbook and also view her service via the live stream service link at www.schriversmemorial.com.

     Visitation, with family present, will be 5:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, at the mortuary.  A liturgical wake service, led by Deacon Peter Mehlhaff, will begin at 7:00 p.m. and a rosary will follow.  Visitation continues one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

     Alice Hopfinger was born November 13, 1938, to Joseph and Josephine (Daschle) Hopfinger in Bowdle, SD. She was the youngest of nine children. Alice attended country school in Hosmer Township through 4th grade. The family then moved to Aberdeen in 1948, where she attended St. Mary's Catholic School. Alice graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1956. As part of a high school program, Alice began working at National Food Store (National Tea) at the age of 14. She worked as cashier, counter clerk and bookkeeper until the store's closure in 1968. Alice then worked at Dan's Cafe until she was hired in Food Service with the Aberdeen Public Schools in 1970. She excelled in leadership during her career there but her main joy was cooking and serving the school children. She celebrated her retirement in 1997.

     Alice was united in marriage to Donald B. Kessler on August 10, 1959, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Aberdeen, SD. They built their life together in Aberdeen and recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary.

     Alice was strong in her faith and was a life-long, active member of St. Mary's. She had a deep love for her family and was most at home in her kitchen. Alice loved cooking and entertaining at holidays. She enjoyed many hobbies: needlework, ceramics, attending local dances, tending to her flower garden, and sewing. Her great pride was sewing for her daughters and later, her granddaughters. For years, she was honored to mend the 30' x 60' American flag, which is the centerpiece of the Circle of Flags at Wylie Park.

     Grateful to have shared in her life is her loving husband, Donald Kessler; two daughters: Darlou (Ron) Snaza and Joanne (Ray) Brandlee; four granddaughters: Kari (Mike) Puffer, Andrea Snaza, Chelsea (Justin) Hanson, and Ashley Snaza; nine great grandchildren; two brothers; a sister; four sisters-in-law; many nieces and nephews; as well her husband's siblings and their families on the Kessler side, whose bond Alice always cherished.

     Alice is preceded in death by her parents, four brothers (one infant), an infant sister, a sister-in-law, and a brother-in-law.