Alice McCarthy

McCarthy, Alice Stoughton- The Biography of a Teacher- Alice McCarthy, age 92, went to be with the Lord on August 13, 2009.   She was born Mary Alice McCarthy on September 24, 1916, on the family farm in the Town of Porter, Rock County, to Charles F. and Mary (Farberg) McCarthy.   She was the 3rd of nine children.   As a child, Alice had a strong desire to learn.   At the age of 4, she began to teach herself to read, so her parents sent her to Leno Country School, where she managed to skip the 4th grade.   She attended Stoughton High School, and graduated in 1932 at the age of 15.   Alice attended Rock County Normal where she obtained a license to teach.   She received her first teaching assignment at the age of 16 and continued to teach Wisconsin children for 55 years.   Imagine the number of live she touched as she taught these children to read and write.   At the time of her retirement, Alice was an elementary teacher at Wilson School in Janesville, Wisconsin, where she taught 30 plus years.   During this period of time, Alice received her Bachelors Degree from Whitewater State Teachers College and a Masters Degree form the University of Wisconsin, Madison.   On weekends Alice would return home to Stoughton.   Saturday morning she would teach catechism at St. Ann Church.   On Sunday she was responsible for counting and packaging coins collected at the two Sunday Masses.   Alice was a religion teacher for elementary school children during the summer.   Alice was a caring, giving person.   She retired from teaching to take care of her ailing mother who was homebound.   When her mother died, she helped to care for her brother who had suffered a stroke.   She helped a countless number of people through charities.   She was especially generous to her nieces, nephews and their families as they embarked on their careers.   She will be missed!   Alice was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Bob (Heather), and Charles (Betty); two sisters, Margaret and Mildred; a niece, Patricia McCarthy; three brothers in law, Paul (Kathryn) Christenson, Harlan (Eileen) Schroeder, and Albin (Clara) Vogel.   She is survived by three sisters, Kathryn Christenson, Eileen Schroeder, and Clara Vogel.   She is further survived by a brother, Jerry (Susan) McCarthy; two sisters in law, Heather McCarthy and Susan McCarthy and many nieces and nephews.   A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 17, 2009 at 10:00 am at St. Ann Catholic Church, 323 N. Van Buren St., Stoughton.   Burial will follow at St. Ann Catholic Cemetery.   The family will greet friends at church on Monday from 9:00 am until the time of service at 10:00 am.   Thank you to the staff at Nazareth House for the professional and loving care that Alice was given for the two years she spent with them.   Further thanks to Dr. Agni and Gail.   A special thank you to Father Healy for his frequent visits to Alice to care for her spiritual needs.   In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Alice's name to the St. Ann Endowment Fund.   Olson-Holzhuter-Cress 206 W Prospect Ave Stoughton 608-873-9244 www.CressFuneralService.com