Alice Louise Andrepont

Alice Louise Andrepont

Upon encountering difficulty or conflict one would always hear Alice say: “and this too shall pass”. That was her gentle way of accepting the gift of life and embracing it with open heart.

Alice Louise, age 72, was lifted by the Holy Spirit just before 10 am on Friday, September 25, 2015 in the tranquility of her home in Port Arthur, TX. She never wanted to be a burden for anyone; however, her daughter, sisters and brothers were able to support and care for her as she went back to her innocence.

When Alice discovered she had a stage 4 lung cancer with slim prospects for another 3 months of life it is widely believed that her first thought was:  “who’s going to take care of all of these people?!” She was innately a Nurturer and provider and anyone who came across her path was susceptible to her compassion. 

Born on July 13, 1943 in Port Arthur, second of five siblings, she graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1961 and attended Lamar University before meeting her first love Bill Neu.  She and Bill settled in Houston where they raised Keith and Denise Neu and saw to it that they had everything kids from that era needed: Gi Joe’s, BMX bikes, Barbie dolls, Sesame Street grovers, Jazz lessons, etc. Alice was the one who made it happen ..always ensuring that their wishes were fulfilled. She would drop off her 13-year-old son at the Houston Summit to see the Kiss concert.  She took in the wayward German exchange student, Tillman, at her daughter’s request. She worked 20 years in Houston for the telephone company and was manager of several phone center stores. Alice’s friends and family at the time had access to every kind of phone you can imagine from Louis the 14th to Mickey Mouse to Bicentennial – and she loved those phones. When the phone company offered her early retirement, she promptly accepted to spend more time with her children.  During that time, she facilitated benefit garage sales for the church and community, drove the Cy-Fair ISD school bus for “giggles” and worked at Foleys so she could get the discount. Whatever the challenge, she did it with 100% “elbow grease” and made it fun for everyone!

 Alice’s 25 year marriage to Bill was a tumultuous affair with a lot of really great times amongst by some truly difficult periods which she always made the best of. With Keith in Europe and Denise off to college, Alice took the opportunity to move back to Port Arthur to be close to her family.  She, like her mother Alice Louise Powers Sr., loved the Port Arthur Intracoastal Waterway… a portal to the Gulf of Mexico.  There she met her second great love, Carl Andrepont. Alice and Carl would spend the next 21 years together.

 In Port Arthur she also began her second “career” as an Administrative Assistant for DuPont. She stayed there for 27 years.  She equally dedicated herself to fun, celebrations, food and games: she perfected gumbo, took grandkids crabbing and fishing, played candy crush, slot machines and loved her bingo. She celebrated the quintessential essence of Mardi Gras, July 4th parties, Car Parades with Carl, and spooky Halloweens on Lakeshore drive with her Mom and sister Judy. She would light up any event just with her radiant spirit and delightful smile. She had a standing appointment on these dates to bring outrageous costumes, joy, enthusiasm and plenty of delicious food for all. She loved just seeing people happy. Alice’s mantra was: I’m OK You’re OK. Now let’s party!

 When travelling she kept an eye out for Casino’s not monuments. She didn’t really care at all for the fancy stuff. She talked to everyone she ever met like they were a longtime friend. For Alice strangers didn’t exist. She would give a perfectly good dinner of stuffed crab to a man in Houston who had just gotten out of jail.  Under her guidance, the house Alice grew up in on Lakeshore Drive became the “Waystation”.. a place where anyone could stay, recoup and re-evaluate their circumstance. A place where they knew they would be supported. She gave everyone a second and even a third and fourth chance. If you were in need she would not fail to help you out, albeit she could look you in the eye and you knew she knew everything without your confession.

 Her care extended to everyone and everything that crossed her path: nieces and nephews, siblings, children, neighbors, animals, grandchildren, rose bushes, friends, long lost relatives and strangers. She had a genuine responsibility to help others. Her compassion to serve was guided by her diligent service to God’s path.  Her words of wisdom and heartfelt generosity will make her charming personality and bright blue eyes missed by all she touched. She was indeed as sweet a lady as you could ever meet.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, William Eugene and Alice Louise Sr., Powers; husband, Carl Andrepont; traveling buddy, Bill Neu; and half-brother Eugene Ormsby. Survived by her son, Keith Neu and wife Yukari Watanabe; daughter, Denise Neu and husband Jay Lemery; Step daughter Rebecca Andrepont; grandchildren, Tigerlily Bogart, Mia Markese; Nicolas, Harrison, and Ella Rose Neu Kelm; brothers Doug Powers, Mike Powers and wife Judy; sisters Judy Woodford and Dona Powers; half brothers Ronald and David Ormsby and wife, Carolyn; puppy pal Sable; numerous nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

A Rosary for Mrs. Andrepont will be recited at 10:30 a.m., with her Memorial Mass celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 1, 2015, at St. James Catholic Church, 3617 Gulfway Drive, Port Arthur, with a reception following at Kirwin Hall.

Alice loved her bluebonnets, roses and all kinds of flowers but would be equally happy with random acts of kindness given to strangers, friends or loved ones.