Harriet West Alvey

Harriet West Alvey, 94, passed away peacefully and in the presence of loved ones on Sunday, February 12, 2023, under hospice care at the Brookdale-Rosehill Assisted Living facility. She is survived by her children- Andrew (Vicki), Lloyd (Cecelia), Constance (Russ), John (Christine), David (Ann Marie), Kathleen, Jimmy (Linda), and Stephen. She leaves behind 20 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She is reunited with our father, Lloyd George Alvey, deceased in 1978, who we are certain received an earful from her on Sunday. Harriet grew up on what became known as Strawberry Hill with her older sisters, Barbara West Burns and Rosemarie West Leverich. Her great- grandmother first arrived in Wyandotte County in 1857, and her grandfather operated a meat shop at 5th and Minnesota from the 1880’s into the 1950’s. Harriet worked at the shop through high school at Bishop Ward and while training as a nurse at St. Mary’s College-Leavenworth. She went to work at the Buick-Oldsmobile-Pontiac Assembly Plant in Fairfax, and she recounted stories of the terrible injuries she treated there. In 1953 she met and married Lt. Lloyd George Alvey, USN, and after one hour at their wedding reception they jumped into their car and drove to Coronado Naval Air Station, as dad was called back up for service in the Korean War. Mom learned from the West family and her faith how to care for the life and dignity of others. Her grandmother regularly left sandwiches on the back porch for the “hoboes” who came up their back alley from the railyards along the river; her Aunt Gertrude West, the highest ranking female officer on the KCK police department, was assigned to help the incarcerated women, even receiving them in her home when they were in need. As a nurse Harriet cared for others- she inoculated hundreds of persons during the flood of 1951, took care of the neighborhood kids when they were sick or injured, and went back to work for the Wyandotte County Health Department as the first nurse ever assigned to the Wyandotte County Jail. Later she served the homebound elderly, regularly taking phone calls after hours from the old folks simply because they were alone and lonely. She cared for dad patiently during his long illness, and anytime any of us adult kids needed an open ear when we or our kids were sick, mom was there for us. Mom had her share of suffering. Her father died when she was five years old. She survived a near-fatal car wreck, aggressive breast cancer, a heart attack, an e-coli infection and Covid 19. Not to mention she survived giving birth to and raising eight children. Mom loved and cared for her children and their children. Her grandchildren looked forward to the meals she prepared every Sunday for the family-all thirty of us. She baby-sat the grandchildren, attended the important events of their life, treated their illnesses, and empathized with them when they complained about schoolwork, especially algebra! Harriet was a devout Catholic and prayed the Rosary daily. She faithfully attended Sunday Mass until she became immobile. She respected the life and dignity of all persons, no matter their stage or condition of life -the poor, the sick and dying, the elderly, the incarcerated, the unborn- Harriet affirmed and served them all. The family would like to extend our special thanks to all those who prayed for Harriet and visited her, lifting her spirits. We are especially grateful for the friendship of Mari Etta (nee Cahill) and John Palmisano, who were responsible for introducing mom and dad. Thanks as well to the staff of caregivers at Brookdale-Rosehill, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing, and the hospice care workers. Finally, thanks to Monsignor Michael Mullen, who administered the Sacrament of Anointing with great tenderness. To all of Harriet’s family, friends, and those she served, we offer her trademark greeting “How Do!” Visitation will begin at 4 pm on Wednesday, February 15 at Maple Hill Funeral Home. Eulogies by loved ones will be given at 6:30 pm, and the Rosary to follow immediately afterward. The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 AM, Thursday, February 16, at St. John the Evangelist Church, 2910 Strong Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. Internment at Maple Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Harriet’s favorite charity, Our Lady of Unity Parish, 2910 Strong Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66106

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Harriet West Alvey

May 18, 1928 - February 12, 2023