John Peel's 50th Birthday

Alice Would Have Been 98 Years Old Today.

Left to Right:  Winona Zabriskie, Deniece Madsen, Alice Hafen and Berniece Coates.

Alice in the middle and these other ladies quilted every Monday for many many years for the purpose of raising money for the Senior Citizen Center in Mt. Pleasant. 

Alice would have been 98 years old today.  She has given of her time and talents to many people and organizations over the years.  Born with a beautiful voice, she has sang at many funerals as well as other occasions.  She is also a wonderful cook.  And I am proud to call her my mother-in-law. 

Cousins at Play

Names are attached.  However, I question Sharilyn Berti on top of the ladder. Could be Jed Ericksen or another Beck Child

Peter Azel Peel and Family

                                              Dressed for Pioneer Day








L to R:  Lois and Alice Peel

Alice Hafen's Funeral Program

A Horseride With Friends

L to R:  Johnie Becker, Ches Madsen, Alice Peel, Neil Hafen, Ada Wright, Louise Hutchinson

Stella Nielsen

From Alice's Photo Collection

Barton, Mills, Ivie

L to R:  Clarence Barton, Arthur Mills, Jess Ivie
taken from Alice Hafen's Photos from the Past

Supt. A.E. Jones - abt 1928

A.E. Jones was Superintendant of North Sanpete High School when Alice Hafen was there; about 1928.

taken from Alice Hafen's Photos from the Past

Remember When Whistles Were Carved From Willows?

Alice remembered and shared her knowledge of the craft.








In the Spring of the year when the sap is up in the willows, it is easy to make a whistle. Cut a length of willow, from between two branches so it has no knots (1).

Carve a notch halfway through the stem. Cut just through the bark and then slide the bark sleeve off the stem (2).

Be careful not to squeeze the bark sleeve too hard or it will crack. The bark slips off real easy after tapping it gently with the handle of a pocket knife. When the bark is removed, carve the inner soft wood as shown in the picture (3).

After the wood is carved, wet the carved end of the whistle in your mouth, and
slip the bark sleeve back on (4).

You have just made yourself a Willow Whistle.

More Recently:.....Two years ago we hosted both the Spring City Elementary and the Mt. Pleasant Elementary Schools. Out on the back lawn, we had 95 year old Alice Hafen demonstrating how to make this willow whistle. It was a delight for the children.

Grandma Alice knows so many of the pioneer craft that she was taught by her pioneer grandparents. She is a wonderful resource for both our blog and the Relic Home.

Elvin Bills and Maxine Johansen

Alice's Photos from the Past

Al Raymond and Emil Hafen

taken from Alice Hafen's Photos from the Past

most likely Carrie Hafen's Scrapbook

Marie Nielsen and Sister Mariah with Bert and Neil Hafen

Marie Nielsen and  her sister, Mariah, with Bert Hafen and Neil Hafen.  Marie was their grandmother.

TOGETHER AGAIN !

Alice Peel Hafen passed away this morning (Friday, January 15) at 5:00 a.m. with her son, Peter at her bedside.  She has been on hospice since Monday, January 11th.  She has been such a great example to her family and all those who have known her throughout her life.  She would have been 98 years old on January 31st.

Alice has seen so many changes and technical advancements in her lifetime.  She had a myriad of stories to share with her grandchildren and great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Stories such as riding in the back of the wagon to go pick fruit over the east mountain, taking a lunch and bedrolls and camping out in the canyon, picking fruit the next day and then the long journey back home.  Another great remembrance was how Neil would wait for her after her work at Eatingers' Cafe and walk  her home.

She also vividly remembered being a nanny in Los Angeles when there was a 6.2 earthquake.  Just the mention of an earthquake frightened her for the rest of her life.

Alice was one of four girls born to Peter Azel and Margaret Ericksen Peel.  All three of her sisters, Lois, Margaret and Barbara passed away due to cancer.  Each sister had young families at their time of death.  Alice lovingly took on the roll of substitute mother for them.  These neices and nephews adore her and have many happy memories of spending time with "Aunt Alice" and "Uncle Neil". 

Alice was born with a beautiful voice and sang at hundreds of funerals.  Once asked, "What are they paying you to sing at this funeral?"  She replied, "Well why should I get paid when it was God that gave me this talent to share."

An historian since her teens.  She kept a journal and loved to take pictures of historical events and special occasions.  She loved being a daughter of this Mt. Pleasant Community.  She was a faithful member of the Latter Day Saint Faith and had a firm testimony.  She served in many church organizations as well as board member of the Mt. Pleasant Pioneer Historical Society.  She also served on the Senior Citizens Board as the one to rustle the talent for their Senior Citizen Dinners.  She loved quilting at the Senior Center on Mondays and formed wonderful friendships there.

She is the mother of two boys, Donald Hafen and  Peter Hafen, both of whom showed her great love and respect and cared for her in her declining years.

Alice put together a cookbook at the age of 92 with favorite family recipes coupled with family pictures and stories.  A loving nephew, Marc Smith, helped her with this project, a great accomplishment that the whole family will treasure for years to come.

Her favorite pastime these past few years has been to organize and share her picture collection.  When I asked her if I could share them on a blog, she was excited to do so.  So many people have written in and expressed their appreciation for these pictures of their family members. She marveled the wonders of internet communication.

She was respected, loved and adored by all who knew her.  So many have said, "When I grow up, I want to be just like Alice Hafen."   

Tyler Tuttle with cousins Ralph and Kay Childs

Tyler Tuttle, Ralph Childs, Kay Childs

from Alice's Photos from the Past

Slumber Party

Alice Peel, Essie Olsen, Louise Matson, Marion Eatinger

Gladys Ericksen, Fannie Monsen, Kate Ericksen

Neil Hafen, Boyd Waldemar at the Ranch ( Bottoms )

from Alice Hafen's Scrapbook

Ina Seely Morgan's 90th Birthday

double click to enlarge

Left to Right: Louise Johansen, Esther Christensen (now deceased) Ina Morgan, and Alice Hafen.

This picture was taken at Ina Morgan's 90th Birthday Party in Nephi on July 12, 2003.  This was six and a half years ago. 

Ladies Donate to Hospital Fund

Esther Matson Peel

Esther Matson Peel

from Alice's Picturs from the Past

Proctor Family

This is from Alice Hafen's Photo Collection.  It is a picture sent to her grandparents, Henry Ericksen and Wilhemina Morrison Ericksen in 1925.  Perhaps someone will appreciate this photo from the Proctor Family.

THREE MUSKATEERS

L to R: Eva Staker, Reva Rosenlof, Alice Hafen

Lovingly referred to as "the Three Muskateers"  as they attended social events together as widows of the Mt. Pleasant Fourth Ward.  Reva has now passed on.  Eva turns 90 years old this week and Alice turns 98 the end of the month.

Three Young Ladies,