Obituary for Alice Marie Auer (Buddenbaum)
Alice Marie (Buddenbaum) Auer, much loved wife, mother, and grandmother, age 77, passed away January 7, 2023 peacefully at home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She was born on July 13, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois to Carl and Helen Buddenbaum and raised in Chicago. She attended Catholic schools, graduating from Good Counsel High School.
Alice attended Loyola University where she met David Auer. They married in 1964, and spent the next 58 years together. Alice was a lifelong scholar, learning and intellectually challenging herself always. She was an avid reader of everything from mysteries to political history to philosophy. She had an uncanny memory and could tell you the day, date, and time of each of her children’s and grandchildren’s births, among many other ancestral details.
She was the kindest, most welcoming, inclusive person you could know. Friends of her children, neighbors, anyone who walked through her front door was family. She was the quintessential host of dinner parties, holiday gatherings, meals for children and their friends home from college, and coffee chats at the kitchen table with neighbors. Her cooking and baking were legendary among those who stopped by.
Alice began a career outside of the home when her children were older. She was an administrative assistant at the University of Michigan School of Chemistry providing support to the Department Chair for many years. She subsequently worked with the Director of the University of Michigan Family Assessment Center as an Administrative Assistant for Research on a grant for the Interdisciplinary Project on Child Abuse and Neglect. When she and David moved back to Chicago, she worked for the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse where she wrote and edited informational and promotional materials. Alice truly loved her work and relished the opportunity to contribute to society. She was commended by colleagues for her willingness to meet challenges, ability to manage complex projects, writing and editing skills, and dedication to the protection of all children.
She and David traveled the world together visiting areas of the United States; many European cities including London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Lisbon, and Barcelona; and countries Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. They had many adventures together and always returned with thoughtful gifts and stories to share with their children and grandchildren about these faraway places.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her son William Joseph Auer and sister Carla (Buddenbaum) Meyer. She is survived by her husband, David; three children, Holly Sorscher, David (Kathy) Auer, Joe (Malayna) Auer of Ann Arbor, Michigan; grandchildren Hannah, Nicholas, Samuel, and Jacob Sorscher, Jessica and Matthew Auer, Audrey Auer; and loving caregiver of 11 years Natalie Wayne.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. with a gathering beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Nie Family Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. An option to attend the service remotely will be shared with those who are unable to attend in person.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Alice Marie Auer may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude).
Alice attended Loyola University where she met David Auer. They married in 1964, and spent the next 58 years together. Alice was a lifelong scholar, learning and intellectually challenging herself always. She was an avid reader of everything from mysteries to political history to philosophy. She had an uncanny memory and could tell you the day, date, and time of each of her children’s and grandchildren’s births, among many other ancestral details.
She was the kindest, most welcoming, inclusive person you could know. Friends of her children, neighbors, anyone who walked through her front door was family. She was the quintessential host of dinner parties, holiday gatherings, meals for children and their friends home from college, and coffee chats at the kitchen table with neighbors. Her cooking and baking were legendary among those who stopped by.
Alice began a career outside of the home when her children were older. She was an administrative assistant at the University of Michigan School of Chemistry providing support to the Department Chair for many years. She subsequently worked with the Director of the University of Michigan Family Assessment Center as an Administrative Assistant for Research on a grant for the Interdisciplinary Project on Child Abuse and Neglect. When she and David moved back to Chicago, she worked for the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse where she wrote and edited informational and promotional materials. Alice truly loved her work and relished the opportunity to contribute to society. She was commended by colleagues for her willingness to meet challenges, ability to manage complex projects, writing and editing skills, and dedication to the protection of all children.
She and David traveled the world together visiting areas of the United States; many European cities including London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Lisbon, and Barcelona; and countries Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. They had many adventures together and always returned with thoughtful gifts and stories to share with their children and grandchildren about these faraway places.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her son William Joseph Auer and sister Carla (Buddenbaum) Meyer. She is survived by her husband, David; three children, Holly Sorscher, David (Kathy) Auer, Joe (Malayna) Auer of Ann Arbor, Michigan; grandchildren Hannah, Nicholas, Samuel, and Jacob Sorscher, Jessica and Matthew Auer, Audrey Auer; and loving caregiver of 11 years Natalie Wayne.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. with a gathering beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Nie Family Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. An option to attend the service remotely will be shared with those who are unable to attend in person.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Alice Marie Auer may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude).