Alice L. Kushner

Alice L. Kushner (née Manning): In Every Stitch, Every Smile, Every Laugh, Every "Oh, Honey..."

Alice L. Kushner passed away peacefully on May 4, 2025, just weeks shy of her 94th birthday. She was many things-devoted wife, beloved mother, proud grandmother, and great-grandmother, generous friend, faithful servant, accomplished artist-but above all, she was a woman who made people feel deeply loved.

Born to Kenneth and Louise Manning on May 17, 1931, Alice grew up on Manning Farm Dairy in Dalton, Pennsylvania. She was the oldest of nine siblings in a home with strong and lasting family ties. She was the beloved sister of Paul Manning, Carol Zick, Robert Manning, and the late John Manning, Elizabeth Ellenburg, James Manning, Ann Manning, and Irene Basalyga.

Alice graduated from Waverly High School in 1949 and Scranton-Lackawanna College in 1950. As a young woman, she took a bold leap, moving to Washington, D.C., to work for the Department of Defense. She continued that work well after meeting and marrying the love of her life, Edward A. Kushner Sr., who preceded her in death in 1999.

Together for 43 years, Alice and Ed built a life grounded in love and devotion, made even richer by the joy of raising their children. They ultimately settled in Anderson Township, Ohio, where they spent most of their years raising their family and building strong ties in the community.

Alice was the loving mother of: Steve (Lorie) Kushner, George (Lynn) Kushner, Edward (Pattie) Kushner, Ken (Denise) Kushner, Tom (Cathy) Kushner, Laura Kushner, and the late Martha (Brian) Currie and John (Erin) Kushner. She raised her children with gentle guidance and unwavering encouragement, cheering them from the sidelines, supporting them through every challenge, and always being their biggest fan.

Raising eight larger-than-life Kushner kids meant the house was always full of life. Alice kept Bactine and Band-Aids within reach, patched up everything from scraped knees to bruised egos, and was a steady, calming presence amid the joyful chaos. She was there for countless games, making sure everyone got to practice, to Mass, and to every milestone in between. Her home overflowed with life, anchored by her quiet strength.

She created joy in everyday moments. The scent of something baking-bread, nut rolls, or trays of her famous gingersnaps-often filled the air. Meals brought family together, and through them, she showed how deeply she cared. Her cabbage rolls (piggies) and mashed potatoes were family favorites, and her sons often joked that her sandwiches were traded like gold at school-small but telling signs of the love she poured into even the simplest things.

She adored her eleven grandchildren: Kellie (Geoff) Ryan, Ryan Kushner, Allie (Evan) Hartman, Zach Kushner, Abby Kushner, Will (Lily) Kushner, Tyler (Kayla) Kushner, Kyle Kushner, Carson Kushner, Elizabeth Kushner, and Kaitlyn Kushner. She lit up in the presence of her ten great-grandchildren: Zoey, Meaa, Lala, Isabella, Ryleigh, Violet, Walker, Jackson, Sage, and Sonny. Each child knew they were cherished, whether through warm hugs, soft words, or one of her famous Christmas cookies.

But it wasn't just the meals that nourished family and friends. Alice had a way of noticing what others missed. She offered comfort when needed, encouragement when it mattered most, and a love that never had to be asked for. With her enduring laugh and soft "Oh, honey," Alice could ease a bad day, quiet your worries, and make you feel seen in a way few others could.

Her creativity found expression in needle and thread. Alice was a master of crewel embroidery. Hundreds of exquisitely detailed, expressive works of art endure in family homes and church sanctuaries. Each was a labor of love, often bearing a handwritten note on the back. Even in her 90s, her hands remained busy, stitching beauty into the world one thread at a time.

Alice lived her Catholic faith daily, not only through worship and devotion to her family, but through humble service. A member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church since 1965, Alice worked in the church office, sang in the choir, gave generously, and lived out her values in daily acts of kindness.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 16, at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 7820 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Township, to celebrate Alice's life. Friends may visit with the family at the church from 9 to 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Pierce Township Cemetery. To honor Alice's generous spirit, donations may be made in her memory to Hospice of Cincinnati or Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.

Alice's life was a warm embrace-faithful, steady, and full of grace. Those who knew and loved her will feel her presence in life's simplest moments: the scent of fresh bread, a glance at her artwork, the feel of a handwritten letter, or the bloom of irises and peonies. It's in those small, beautiful moments that she lives on.