Alicia Chandler

Alicia Chandler passed away peacefully in her bed at the Ballard Landmark on Feb. 7th, at the age of 95. She was a kind and generous wife, mother, aunt and friend to all that knew her. She was born in Seattle to Elmer and Alice (Donahue) Smith and was raised in Ballard with her two sisters, Mary Ann and Roberta. She attended St. Alphonsus grade school and Holy Angels High School, then transferred to Ballard H.S. for her senior year, graduating in 1947. Alicia went on to Seattle University, graduating in 1951, before starting her teaching career.

She married Bill Chandler on August 21, 1954, also at St. Alphonsus. Her career was put on hold as they started a family together. Laura came first, followed by Neil and Lee. In 1958 they moved into a home on NE 51st St. in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood where they lived for the next 52 years. As the children grew older, Alicia resumed her teaching career as a substitute, primarily with Seattle Public Schools. She even learned sign language so she could teach special needs students.

Bill and Alicia were avid skiers from an early age, and many memories revolve around the family cabin on the Tye River near Skykomish, with winter skiing at Stevens Pass, and summer vacations in the rustic, forested home-away-from-home. After retirement they enjoyed ski vacations in Lake Tahoe, Utah, and Colorado in the company of many of their closest friends and family, as well as trips to Ireland, Canada, Alaska, and Arizona for Mariners’ spring training.

Alicia was a long-time parishioner at Blessed Sacrament. After moving back to Ballard with Bill in 2011, she returned to her childhood parish, St. Alphonsus. She was also a life member of the Ballard Emblem Club.

Bill passed away in 2018. Survivors include sister Roberta Williams, children Laura (Mark), Neil (Marlys), and Lee (Kelli), along with five grandchildren (Rose, Ann Marie, Marty, Devin and Angela) and five great-grandchildren (Shaun, Cooper, Jack, Brendan and Alice).

A funeral mass will take place on Saturday, March 14, 11:00am, preceded by a rosary at 10:00am with a reception following, at St. Alphonsus, 5816 15th Avenue NW, Seattle, 98107.