Alice Mulder-Biagi

On September 1, 1924, Alice was born to Elzie Jefferson and Ella Coffey in Oakland, CA.  She was the second of three daughters and grew up in the Pacific Northwest.  There is a wonderful story about the family living in a log cabin during the Depression, while her father was a carpenter to support the family. Alice was very musical, played the violin and played for the Pacific Union College symphony.  After high school, Alice and her older sister, June, went to Loma Linda, CA, to study nursing. The Coffey sisters got a lot of attention for being pretty, smart, and friendly.  The one that caught Alice's eye was Jay Ivan Mulder, a young medical student.  They were married, and their first child, Peggy was born to the young couple in 1947.

They moved to Los Angeles where Jay was a medical intern and later a resident.  Their second child, Jay, was born during this time. In 1951, Jay Sr. became a Captain in the army and served in Korea as a MASH doctor. Alice was on her own with two little children for almost two years.  Upon his return, the family moved to Covina, CA, where Jay set up his OBGYN medical practice and Alice had a new baby, Miriam.  In 1958, their fourth child, Matthew, was born and the busy life of wife, mother, and community participant took over.

Alice was artistic, creative, and a good organizer.  She participated in her children's activities and made the most elaborate Halloween costumes for them.  She was active in the medical Women's Auxiliary, getting several famous people as speakers.  As the children got older, she took art and drama classes.  She was proud of her only 'paid' job as event coordinator at Arcadia Methodist hospital. As proof of her organization abilities, she put on a wedding in the family home for each daughter. managing both weddings in a month's time.

In 1990, Alice and Jay moved to Desert Horizons in Indian Wells, CA. Their long-awaited retirement only lasted three years, when Jay passed away in 1993.  Her children were amazed at how many potential suitors materialized soon after.  And one did catch her eye, Richard Biagi.  They were married and lived half the year at Desert Horizons and half the year in Alamo, CA.

Alice and Richard were a very active older couple. They traveled, went on cruises, did elaborate decorations for parties at their desert club, and they loved to dance.  Alice came into her own as an artist, making life-sized characters for parties, and as a performer, choreographing, writing lyrics, and performing at club functions.  She was very happy during this part of her life.  Alice and Richard had been married thirty years at the time of her passing.

Yet, more than anything, we remember Alice as the most loving, giving person.  She was always making sure that anyone around her knew she appreciated them and made them feel special.  She liked being stylish and was warmly, social to everyone.  Even in her last months, though dementia had taken a lot of her, her loving essence remained.  If family or staff walked by her, she would say "I love you".  We feel blessed to have had her in our lives.  She was 100 years old at the time of her death. 

Alice is survived by her husband, Richard Biagi, her four children, Peggy Mulder Kersulis, Jay Steven Mulder, Miriam Mulder Katkov, and Matthew Thomas Mulder, and her stepchildren, Sandy Biagi-Ogden and Sharon Juhnke.  She also has six grandchildren, Zoe Kersulis, Kate Crandall, Jesse Mulder, Claire Compton, Amelia Rada, and Nick Katkov, and four step grandchildren, Casey Sasser, Cooper Ogden, Chris Juhnke and Drew Juhnke.  There are fifteen great-granchildren.  All will miss her.

There will be a graveside service for family only.