Alina Georgette (Vaillancourt) Alix, 93, died peacefully at her home in Greenville on April 20, 2023.
Alina was born on January 30, 1930 in Greenville to her parents Amedee and Yvonne (Fortin) Vaillancourt. She was one of eleven children, which made for a lively, but crowded, home-life as she was growing up. She attended the Catholic school of Sacred Heart Parish before finishing her studies at Sisters of the Assumption in Nicolet, Quebec.
After graduating, Alina returned to Greenville where she met her husband, Philip. They were married on September 3, 1949 and would go on to have three sons and one daughter. Alina truly loved being a wife and mother, but she also had an accomplished career outside her home. She worked in the office and cloth room of the Greenville Mill, later Florence Mills, before switching careers in the early 1970s after the mills closed. She first started out working as a teller at the Mason Village Savings Bank, but, after taking courses to gain certification in banking, she worked her way up to Branch Manager before her retirement.
Throughout her life, Alina and Phil had an open-door policy at their house. They were happy to welcome in anyone who appeared at their door and would usually offer them a variety of soups, sweets, snacks, and desserts. Alina was a talented and avid baker. It was always a given she would have something homemade on her counter whenever you stopped by. Alina also never missed a birthday party or a cookout. She was always happiest when surrounded by family.
As years went by, Alina watched her family grow. She welcomed twelve grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren. One of her greatest passions was supporting her family’s pastimes. She loved to travel to watch all kinds of sports, including softball, baseball, basketball, volleyball, and soccer. She always made a point to bring her cheering voice and sometimes her feisty temper, which was always directed at any bad refs. She also enjoyed watching concerts and plays and visiting family in Florida, California, Illinois, and Ohio.
Faith was important to Alina. She was a lifelong communicant at Sacred Heart. She loved to volunteer for church events (like the much-loved Lawn Parties and Christmas Bazaars) and the parish suppers. She was proud of many family members who made sacraments at her church and in others. Additionally, she was a member of the Ladies of St. Anne at Sacred Heart and of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Alina loved to garden and would always make sure her yard looked neat and tidy before Memorial Day and throughout the summer. Her flower garden always had beautiful varieties of both annuals and perennials. She also loved watching the hummingbirds and made sure to keep flowers to attract them. This kind, caring, and selfless lady will be missed by all who knew her.
Alina was predeceased by her loving husband, Philip; her infant granddaughter Christine; her parents; her siblings Roger, Anne Marie Bouley, Vivian Alton, Ronald, Leonard, Raymond, and Jean. She is survived by her brother, Paul, and her sisters, Rachel Martin and Denise Comeau; and by her sons and daughters-in law, George and Gladys, Denis and Carol, Marcel and Lynn, and her daughter, Diane Steele. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren; Richard (Karen), Jeffrey (fiancé Lisa), Katrina, Shawn (Amanda), Joshua (Heather), Christopher (Chanelle), Stephanie Loiselle, Justin (Kendra), Allison Huckins (Rob), Marcel (Jennifer), Courtney Caisse (Jeff), and Kody. She was the proud great-grandmother of 19.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church, 15 High Street, Greenville, at 11 a.m., on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society at Sacred Heart.
